Invisalign is a treatment designed to realign teeth and address bite issues – it is not designed to serve as a form of cavity protection. Your teeth are still just as susceptible to cavities as they were before wearing aligners. But you don’t have to live in fear of getting a cavity during your treatment and setting yourself back; there’s still quite a lot you can do to safeguard your smile. Keep the following tips in mind!
Tips for Preventing Cavities & Keeping Your Treatment on Track
1. Don’t Neglect Your Oral Hygiene
Your oral hygiene matters more than ever while wearing Invisalign. Since you’ll be wearing your aligners at all times (you only take them out to eat and brush/floss), if there’s any food debris left on your teeth after eating, it’ll become trapped under your aligners unless you clean your teeth before putting them back on. In a perfect world, you would brush, floss, clean your aligners, and then put them back – but we are human, and not everyone is perfect! At a minimum, following every meal, we encourage all patients to rinse their mouths out with lots of water, floss, and clean their aligners with antibacterial soap and water before putting them back in their mouths. Keeping your mouth clean will also help to keep your aligners clear, allowing you to show off your beautiful smile!
2. Keep Up with Your Routine Check-Ins
Invisalign patients typically require fewer check-ins compared to patients with metal braces, since the aligners don’t have to be adjusted. Instead, patients are given multiple aligners at a time, and each aligner is swapped out every 7 to 10 days. You’ll be expected to come back for check-ins every 6 to 8 weeks. This is so we can inspect your smile, track your progress, update your treatment plan as needed, and check for underlying issues – like cavities you cannot detect yourself!
3. Consider Your Diet During Invisalign
It’s true that Invisalign doesn’t come with the same dietary restrictions that metal braces are notorious for. That’s because the aligners are removable, unlike braces, so it’s easier for you to clean all the sugary and starchy foods off your teeth. However, you might still want to think twice about what you’re eating because you will need to clean your teeth more often before putting your aligners back on. If you’re consuming excessive amounts of sugary or starchy foods, you’re still going to be fueling the harmful bacteria inside your mouth. And if you eat these items and then put your aligners back in without brushing, flossing, or rinsing with water, you’ve just created the perfect breeding ground for these bacteria! Try to stick with healthy, sensible options when you can. It will save you time cleaning your teeth in the bathroom and also save you from needing any cavities fixed!
What Happens If I Get a Cavity During Invisalign Treatment?
Don’t worry! Your dentist can fix cavities easily during Invisalign treatment. Unlike traditional metal braces, where the brackets and wires need to be removed before repairing a cavity, Invisalign is completely removable. This makes it easy for your dentist to fix any cavities that may show up in the middle of treatment.
You might also be worried about the fit of your aligner after getting a cavity filled. It’s pretty easy to fix a simple cavity without it affecting your Invisalign treatment. If, for some reason, your aligner doesn’t fit anymore, your mouth can be re-scanned, and updated aligners can be ordered, causing minimal (if any) delay in treatment.
About the Practice
Under the talented leadership of Dr. Tricia Mockler, the team at Mockler Dental proudly serves the needs of patients in Campbell and the surrounding area. They offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatment options, including Invisalign for patients who’d like to straighten their smiles and boost their quality of life! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with the office to set up an appointment, please reach out online or call today for additional information or assistance. Telephone: (408) 871-0877.