2 Mistakes To Avoid While Wearing Clear Braces
If the time has come to finally straighten your crooked teeth, you may have opted to use clear braces such as Invisalign because you find them to be a more attractive and easier way to get the results you want. However, while you are wearing your aligners, be sure to avoid the following mistakes that could lead to staining or even bacterial buildup under the braces.
1. Forgetting to Take Out Your Aligners Before You Eat or Drink
One of the major advantages of clear braces is that you can remove the aligners when you eat so that you can still enjoy foods and drinks that are usually restricted with traditional braces. Foods such as sticky pizza crust or hard candies can still be enjoyed when you take out the aligners, and you can have wine or coffee without worrying about staining the braces.
However, if you forget to take them out when you eating, you run two risks. First, if you are eating something hard, you may accidentally crack the aligners, requiring you to have them replaced.
And, if you drink your cup of coffee while leaving them in, you may stain them, which would bring attention to your otherwise invisible braces. Get into the habit of removing your aligners before you eat or drink anything to avoid these problems.
2. Neglecting to Thoroughly Clean Your Aligners Every Day
Another mistake that you want to avoid while you are wearing clear braces is neglecting to thoroughly clean the aligners every day. Even if you take out the aligners before you eat, if you do not brush your teeth directly afterward, any residual food or liquid will still remain on your teeth and will be transferred to the aligners.
If you do not brush your aligners every night before you go to bed, any residual food or liquid will be in direct contact with your teeth. While there, any bacteria in your mouth will feast on the residue, which may cause bad breath, tartar and plaque buildup, and even possible infection.
To prevent these risks, brush your braces at the same time you brush your teeth. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste to do the job.
Avoiding the above mistakes can help ensure that your clear braces stay clear and clean throughout the time that you need them. For more information about taking care of your clear braces as well as your general oral hygiene, speak with your dentist or orthodontist.
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