Invisalign has allowed millions of patients to straighten their smiles without the conspicuous metal parts and dietary restrictions that come with traditional metal braces. While Invisalign clear aligners might seem like protective shields for your teeth, preventing cavities is still a significant concern for people wearing them. Here’s how cavities can form on your teeth when wearing Invisalign and what you can do to prevent that from happening.
How Can Cavities Form When I’m Wearing Invisalign?
Invisalign requires patients to wear their clear aligners for twenty-two hours every day while removing them for oral hygiene, eating, and drinking anything but water. While these aligners might seem like protective shields for your teeth, the reality is that they do a lot to separate your teeth from your mouth’s natural cleaning process. Your mouth uses saliva flow to dilute and flush away substances that can harm your teeth. If you wear your aligners without properly cleaning your teeth first, it can provide bacteria with a perfectly safe place to multiply.
These bacteria eat sugar and excrete acid, which is one of the worst things for your teeth because it weakens your enamel on contact. If this process is allowed to continue, these bacteria will eat their way into a tooth, forming a cavity. Any cavities discovered during an Invisalign treatment will need to be resolved, potentially causing delays in treatment.
How Can I Prevent Cavities from Forming While Wearing Invisalign?
Luckily, proper hygiene can keep your teeth safe during Invisalign treatment. Every time you take your aligners out, rinse them with lukewarm water. Remove them before eating and wait thirty minutes after eating before thoroughly cleaning your teeth. This includes brushing and flossing, so you’ll probably want to make an Invisalign travel hygiene kit to bring with you to work or school. Only place your clear aligners back on your teeth after cleaning both of them thoroughly.
With proper hygiene, you can go through a whole course of Invisalign without worrying about tooth decay. Consulting with your dentist can determine if Invisalign is a suitable treatment for you.
About the Author
Dr. Richard Carlson graduated with his dental degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry and has taught at the University of Florida’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program. He is proud to hold memberships with the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. His offices in Jacksonville, FL offer general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry in addition to Invisalign. For more information on proper hygiene with Invisalign, contact the office online.