There is enough to remember while wearing clear aligners to straighten your smile, right? If you want to see a noticeably improved aesthetic when finished with treatment, you’ll want to make sure you’re taking proper care of your teeth and gums, too. While your smile might be straighter, it won’t look near as pretty if decay or gum disease is allowed to develop. So, are cavities during Invisalign in Glenpool a real possibility? Let a dentist share the hard truth and why it’s important to take care of your smile throughout treatment.
Can Cavities Occur While Wearing Invisalign?
Yes, cavities can most certainly form even while wearing Invisalign clear aligners. Just because these clear, plastic trays are covering your teeth and moving them in the right direction doesn’t mean that bacteria and plaque cannot form underneath the aligners and wreak havoc on your smile. This is why it is necessary to take proper care of not only your pearly whites but also your Invisalign trays.
Every day, bacteria and food particles pass through your mouth and although you cannot eat or drink with your trays in your mouth, the remnants left behind can quickly go to work on your teeth and pass from your aligners to your smile. This cross-contamination can put your enamel at risk for cavity development if you don’t take the proper precautions.
How to Ensure a Healthier Smile
Even while wearing Invisalign aligners, it is necessary that you maintain optimal oral health. To do this, you’ll need to make sure you are brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. It is best to clean your teeth after every meal to minimize the potential for plaque and harmful acids eating away at your tooth enamel. You’ll also want to make sure you are flossing in-between your teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash.
But it’s not just about keeping your pearly whites and soft tissues clean. You’ll also need to use clear soap, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and lukewarm water to keep your aligners in good shape. Because dried saliva and bacteria can accumulate on your trays throughout the day, regular cleaning and rinsing are necessary to avoid these from transferring from your Invisalign onto your teeth.
What if a Cavity Develops?
Should your dentist discover a cavity has developed while wearing Invisalign, it will be important to have it treated as soon as possible. A dental professional can place a filling; however, there is a possibility that you might have additional soreness while wearing your Invisalign. If the cavity penetrates further than the enamel and requires a more extensive dental restoration to fix (i.e., onlay, inlay, dental crown), your Invisalign trays may not fit quite as well because of the new fixture in your mouth that will take up a bit more space.
While pursuing orthodontic treatment of any kind, it is best to commit to better oral hygiene. It is the only way you can ensure successful results that leave you with a more aesthetically pleasing and healthy smile.
About the Author
Considering Invisalign to straighten your smile? Dr. Dalia Georgy and her husband, Dr. Mohanna, oversee Glenpool Braces and believe every patient can achieve a happier, healthier smile. Whether helping an individual embrace traditional braces or Invisalign clear aligners, she and her team will go over the details of treatment and ensure proper steps are taken to avoid common dental problems (i.e., cavities, gum disease) while working toward a straighter smile. If you are worried you might develop tooth decay while wearing Invisalign, visit our website or call (918) 201-1414.