Many adults and teens choose Invisalign to straighten their smiles because the clear plastic material is more comfortable and discreet than the metal brackets of braces. However, the clear trays must be worn for 22 hours daily to prevent your teeth from reverting to their previous positions. They can trap germs, bits of food, and other debris against your teeth and gums all day, so it’s imperative that you maintain them properly to avoid decay and disease.
This is especially true during flu season when extra bacteria are frequently shared from person to person. Continue reading to learn three tips to safeguard your grin if you get sick with Invisalign!
Helpful Hint #1: Wash Your Hands
For example, viruses like the common cold spread through droplets of air from an infected person when they cough, sneeze, or blow their nose. These droplets can be inhaled directly into the lungs or land and stick to nearby surfaces to be picked up by your fingers the next time you touch them. If you touch your Invisalign with germy fingers and put it in your mouth, you’ll likely catch whatever germs are lying around.
Washing your hands frequently removes germs to minimize the risk of picking up some unwanted illness. Regularly cleaning them if you’re already sick helps you avoid sharing it with your friends, family, coworkers, or classmates.
Helpful Hint #2: Drink Plenty of Water
Many Invisalign patients aren’t aware that their orthodontics can potentially cause dry mouth. The trays covering your teeth change the environment in your mouth and can lead to reduced saliva production. To make matters worse, you’re more likely to breathe through your mouth if your nose is stuffy, leading to dried-out aligners.
Unfortunately, spit is your body’s first defense against illness and infection because it rinses away unhealthy bacteria and keeps your enamel strong. Without enough moisture, you’re less able to fight off unhealthy germs, leaving you more likely to get sick. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your mouth clean and supports your immune system to fight bacteria.
Helpful Hint #3: Maintain Dental Hygiene
When you’re already feeling exhausted and sore, it can be hard to stick to your daily routine. However, keeping your teeth and gums clean is imperative to preserving your dental health while you’re sick. You should continue to brush and floss twice daily to remove plaque buildup that contributes to cavities and gum disease.
Making these few adjustments to your regular habits can preserve your dental health to stay on track with your Invisalign treatment this flu season!
About the Practice
At Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox, you and your family benefit from a team of dentists who are passionate about helping you build and maintain a happy, healthy smile. With decades of combined experience, they welcome people of all ages and provide a full array of services conveniently under one roof, including Invisalign. They combine a friendly and honest approach with state-of-the-art equipment to enhance patient comfort while delivering accurate, long-lasting results. If you want a straighter smile, you can request a consultation on the website or call (815) 462-9990.