Cosmetic dentists recommend Invisalign to those who want to straighten their teeth without having an unsightly appearance. These aligners are the perfect alternative to metal braces because they are almost invisible and improve both your facial appearance and smile. These dental products can be used by adults, children and kids. Invisalign provides an easy and convenient way to straighten your natural whites without the annoying limitations of traditional metal braces. They are removable and therefore not inconvenient to use like ordinary metal braces.

However, there are chances developing cavities with Invisalign if you are not careful. This means that you have to religiously maintain good oral hygiene to avoid hollows and fissures. In this article, I am therefore going to walk you through with some of the ways to avoid tooth cavity when using these products.

FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE RULES

1. Clean Thoroughly

Avoid wearing aligners if you have not cleansed your teeth thoroughly. When I am talking about cleaning, I mean brushing and flossing your teeth thoroughly. After having your meal, make sure that you not only floss but also brush with any good toothpaste suggested by your dentist. Once you have cleaned, you can wear them.

2. Eat Less of Processed Foods

To keep your whites in good condition when using Invisalign, eat more of plant foods and less of processed items. Cut out chocolates, candies, sticky toffees and sweet drinks like juices, soda, tea or coffee.

3. Getting Your Whites Sealed

Though getting your teeth sealed (before the Invisalign procedure) by a professional and qualified dentist will cost you, it is better if you can actually afford it. That’s because it will reduce the possibilities of developing cavities.

4. Use Toothpaste having Xylitol

Most of the over the counter toothpastes have artificial sweeteners that are not good for your oral health. Choose a paste that has Xylitol, a natural sweetener as its ingredient. Some studies have revealed that Xylitol helps in lessening hollows and cracks in your teeth to a considerable extent.

5. Chew a Gum Having Xylitol

Besides regular brushing and flossing, there are other things you can do to improve your oral health. After your main meals of the day, chew a gum having Xylitol. Why? After rinsing your mouth with water, chewing this gum will clean the insides of your mouth, get rid of the tiny food particles that may have stuck between your teeth and helps in increasing the formation of saliva. This is a method of self-cleaning and the best way to avoid cavities when using dental aligners.

6. Rinse Your Mouth with Water after Chewing the Gum

Once you find that there is no flavor left in the gum, throw it away and rinse your mouth with water again. Thereafter, you will need to floss with a waxed floss tape. I am recommending a floss tape because ordinary floss may be sharp and injure your gums. Try to get a waxed tape having a little thickness so that it can get rid of anything stuck in your teeth. Make sure that you floss meticulously every tooth and gums for that perfect cleaning. Keep washing your mouth as you floss and always use new floss instead of the old one.

7. Wait for Some Time after Eating

Most people commit the mistake of starting their dental hygiene routine immediately after lunch or dinner. To get the best results, wait for a while after your meal. Try swishing your saliva in your mouth and rinse thoroughly with water. Wait for 10-15 minutes. This helps to self-clean your mouth before you brush and put the Invisalign trays back inside your mouth.

8. Brush Gently

I have already told that always brush with a toothpaste having Xylitol. It is important to note here that you need to brush your inner whites, cheek and tongue very gently so that you don’t hurt yourself. Wash your mouth thoroughly with water. Repeat if it is necessary.

9. Clean Your Invisalign before Them Back in

Before putting the trays back in, clean them using a soft and different brush, liquid soap and water. I would suggest that you use an anti-bacterial liquid and water. Do not make the mistake of using warm water. Else the plastic may melt or get damaged.

The best way is keeping the trays in a clean bowl of cold water and anti-bacterial soap. This will keep it bacteria-free and super clean.

10. Avoid Using Ordinary Mouthwashes

To be on the safe side, it’s prudent not to use ordinary mouthwashes that are available in the market. That’s because most of these mouthwashes only mask the bacteria for a while and make your mouth dry. This is not healthy because you need saliva to self-clean your mouth and teeth for avoiding cavities.

If you are thinking of straightening your whites, consult a reputed Invisalign specialist and ask him about its maintenance and care. Also keep in mind the above mentioned tips to avoid cavities.

About Kelvin Chad:

Kelvin Chad is familiar with some well-known dentists. In this article, he has elucidated on how to avoid cavities when using Invisalign. Most of this information was collected from experienced Rancho Cucamonga dentists.