The holiday season is here, and it’s time to celebrate and indulge in delicious treats. Common holiday treats that are available around this time of year are sweet treats such as cookies, pies, cakes, cupcakes and a variety of desserts. You want to enjoy the festivities and these tasty treats without interrupting your Invisalign treatment. The following tips will help you enjoy holiday treats as well as keep your teeth straightening treatment on track.
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Remove Aligners Every Time You Eat or Drink
Your orthodontist already discussed the instructions you need to follow, but sometimes you might ignore them when it comes to the holidays and tasty treats. Always remove your aligners before eating and drinking. The only thing you should consume is room temperature water while wearing your aligners. Otherwise, the heat and chewing action can damage your aligners and interrupt your Invisalign treatment.
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Beware of the Hot Beverages
Beverages such as hot chocolate and specialty coffee are popular during the holiday season. You might feel tempted to just take a sip or two while wearing your aligners. The problem is just one sip of a warm or hot beverage can damage your aligners. Once the damage is done, it can’t be repaired. Your orthodontist will need to replace the aligner which will delay your treatment process. Make sure you place your aligners in their storage container even if you are just taking a sip of a hot beverage.
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Brush After Every Meal and Snack
You already know you need to brush after every meal, but you also need to brush after every snack and beverage. The sugars from tasty treats and holiday season beverages adhere to the teeth and could lead to bacteria growth and tooth decay. Placing your Invisalign aligners back in your mouth without brushing will trap the sugar and food particles against and between your teeth. This leads to a bad odor and bacteria growth.
You may also like: Invisalign Care Guide
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Floss to Remove Food Particles
Tiny food particles get stuck between your teeth every time you eat. Even if you brush your teeth, there are still hard to reach places that have food stuck in the crevices of your teeth. This food gets trapped in further with your Invisalign aligners which lead to odor, bacteria growth and tooth decay. Brushing and flossing after every meal will assure you removed the particles which will help reduce the risk of tooth decay.
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Rinse Thoroughly
Rinsing after brushing is required but what happens when you don’t have access to a toothbrush but still need to go forward with your day? There will be moments when you can’t brush your teeth so rinsing with plain water is the next best thing. Swish the water around in your mouth and repeat the process as many times as needed until you know longer see food particles flowing down the sink. Also, rinse your aligners with water and use your fingertips to gently clean them before placing them in your mouth.
Invisalign will straighten your teeth and still allow you to enjoy your favorite foods. Get your Invisalign treatment started today!
Schedule you Invisalign Appointment
Contact us today for your no-obligation Invisalign appointment in NYC. You may also call Dr. Jacquie Smiles at 212-972-3522. Our office is conveniently located near 30 East 40th Street Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016.
