Over the years, more and more people have been using Invisalign in orthodontic treatment due to its numerous advantages. One thing about Invisalign as compared to alternatives like braces is that Invisalign is aesthetically looking perfectly blending in with your appearance. In addition to that, Invisalign is removable. This makes it possible for you to enjoy your meals as you can simply remove the Invisalign and enjoy your meals. You can put it back on after you are done with the meal.
However, maintaining Invisalign is not as easy as it seems.
Here are some things to keep in mind when eating and drinking with Invisalign.
1. Take the aligners off when eating
Some orthodontists and dentists believe that keeping your aligners on when eating will help the teeth track better during the treatment process. That is not the case though. Eating takes force and this kind of force can be catastrophic and may result in the Invisalign aligners breaking which will slow down your treatment process. In addition, if an Invisalign aligner is to break, replacing it can take long which is terribly inconveniencing. Before you eat, it’s wiser to first take of your Invisalign aligners.
2. Be Mindful of what you drink
This advice will differ depending on the orthodontist. Some believe it’s okay to drink anything with your aligners on which isn’t entirely false. However, if you drink fluids like Coffee and tea with your Invisalign on, you will begin to notice their color turn brown. This will make them unattractive, as they would lose their colorless appeal. The best liquid to drink with your Invisalign is cold water.
3. Brush your teeth often
You are required to put on your aligners for 20 – 22hrs a day for your treatment to be effective. If you take off your Invisalign when eating, you need to brush your teeth soon after eating before putting your aligners back on. Invisalign enclose the space around your teeth, so if you just put on the aligners indiscriminately without brushing your teeth beforehand, you will speed up the growth of cavity, which in turn speeds up tooth decay.
4. No Gum
If you love to chew, you might have to deal with the withdrawal symptoms of not chewing for the sake of your treatment. Gum’s properties especially the stickiness will damage your aligners. You need to throw away the gum for a while to allow your teeth to fully heal.
5. Speed through your meals
Invisalign must be worn for at least 20 hrs. each day. This means you have to plan your meals around the remaining four hours. Fully utilizing 4hrs out a 24hr day takes immense discipline and careful planning. If possible, reserve six thirty minute slots for eating.
It’s important to remember that even though your Invisalign Aligners are durable and strong, they are not indestructible. You have to try to desist from potentially destructive oral behaviors that can potentially slow your treatment progress.