Your Southern Ontario Invisalign® Provider
Invisalign can help straighten your teeth, but you will need to care for your aligners. This includes being mindful of your eating and drinking habits. Our orthodontists at Village Orthodontics share the do's and don'ts while wearing Invisalign and answer the question, 'Can I chew gum with Invisalign?'
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a clear, plastic alternative to traditional braces. These aligners subtly straighten teeth without visible brackets and wires, changing the appearance of your smile.
They can help address several dental problems, such as:
How do you use Invisalign?
You wear Invisalign almost all day, every day. These aligners gradually shift your teeth into place but are also removable, allowing you to eat, drink, or brush your teeth with ease.
To achieve your desired results, you will wear your aligners for a few weeks and then switch to a new set as you progress. The duration of treatment varies based on the severity of the dental issue you are addressing.
The Do's & Don'ts of Invisalign
If the thought of metal braces has prevented you from achieving a straighter smile, it’s time to consider Invisalign. The Invisalign system consists of a series of clear aligners that can straighten crooked, crowded, uneven, or gapped teeth. Unlike traditional braces, one of the greatest benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners can be removed, making it easy to eat and care for your teeth. As with any type of orthodontic treatment, there are specific instructions that you should follow for success.
Here, we share the do's and don'ts when using Invisalign clear aligners to help you achieve optimal outcomes.
Invisalign Do’s
Our orthodontists recommend diligently caring for your aligners and prevent potential complications. Specifically, you'll likely hear your orthodontist instruct you to:
- Regularly clean your aligners: Cleaning your aligners helps prevent dental problems like cavities by clearing away debris and bacteria. To do this, brush your aligners under lukewarm water and rinse them well. Don't forget to brush your teeth before putting your aligners back in again.
- Sleep with your aligners in: You will need to wear your aligners for 20–22 hours a day, so you will need to be sure to sleep with them in.
Invisalign Don’ts
To help achieve ideal results with your Invisalign treatment, there are some things you should not do with your aligners. Specifically:
- Don’t allow your aligners to become stained: Take your Invisalign aligners out before you have a meal or snack. Food residue can stain your aligners.
- Don’t eat with Invisalign in: Remove your aligners while you are eating to help prevent staining and food from getting stuck in your aligners. This includes chewing gum. Brush your teeth after your meal to avoid staining and buildup of bacteria.
- Don’t drink anything but water: Staining can occur from most drinks. The only thing you should drink with your aligners in is water.
Can I chew gum with my Invisalign aligners in?
No, you should never chew gum with your Invisalign clear aligners in. Gum can stick to the aligners and will be difficult to remove, potentially causing damage.
The same goes for braces, as gum will get stuck in the wires and brackets that are used to straighten your teeth.
This may lead you to ask, 'Can I chew gum with my Invisalign aligners out?'. While you can remove your aligners if you want to chew a piece of gum, don’t do this too often. Removing your aligners too often can delay your treatment.
Caring for your Invisalign aligners can help prevent complications and benefit your treatment in the long term.
Feel Confident in Your Smile
Invisalign is an ideal solution for many patients who want to straighten their teeth and achieve a healthy, bright smile.
With proper care, clear aligners can be a great alternative to traditional braces. Speak with your orthodontist. They can help you decide if Invisalign is suitable for your needs.
At Village Orthodontics, our goal is to offer treatment options that will allow our patients to preserve their smiles and create facial balance and harmony between the soft and hard tissues of the mouth.
We believe that providing optimal orthodontic care involves ensuring that patients are well-informed. Throughout the assessment and treatment planning process, we will take the time to explain how orthodontic treatment can enhance both the health and appearance of your smile.