Invisalign is an excellent way to realign your smile without the dietary restrictions or conspicuous metal parts that come with traditional braces, but you might be wondering how you can stay on top of your treatment while celebrating the Halloween season. Fortunately, it’s perfectly possible to have a terrifying blast of fun while wearing clear aligners. Here’s a Halloween survival guide for Invisalign patients.
Mind Your Clear Aligners When Enjoying Your Candy
While Invisalign does not come with any dietary restrictions, it is crucial to keep your teeth clean while wearing your clear aligners for the required twenty-two hours every day. You will need to remove your them when eating or drinking anything but water, and you will need to thoroughly clean your teeth before you put them back in. If any food particles or sugary residues are still stuck to your teeth when you put your clear aligner back in place, they will serve as a breeding ground for tooth decay-causing bacteria.
When Is the Best Time to Eat Candy?
Eating candy while wearing your aligners is a terrible idea. Invisalign clear aligners are not designed to withstand the pressures of the chewing process. If you eat without removing them, your aligners can crack, which can be a significant setback for your treatment.
Mealtimes are the ideal times for enjoying your Halloween candy. During meals, your mouth steps up saliva production to help with the digestion process. This extra saliva provides your teeth with added protection against damage while also diluting sugary residues and washing away food particles. It’s also a great idea to enjoy a nice tall glass of water with meals because this will keep your body hydrated enough for healthy saliva flow while helping to rinse food debris and sugary films from your mouth.
Skip the Plastic Fangs
It might be hard to look the part of a scary monster when you’re wearing traditional metal braces, but since Invisalign is virtually invisible, you won’t have to worry about your clear aligners distracting people from your terrifying visage. The one costume piece that won’t work during an Invisalign treatment is vampire fangs. Similarly to Invisalign, these dental prosthetics are designed to fit directly over the teeth, so it’s not really possible to wear both at once. It might be better to go for a hockey mask or some ghoulish makeup this Halloween and leave the vampire outfit for next year.
Halloween is the best time of year to celebrate all things creepy, spooky, scary, and startling, and Invisalign is a great way to straighten your teeth out when you celebrate. As long as you keep your teeth clean and wear your aligners for the required twenty-two hours a day, you should be on track with your treatment and on the road to better alignment.
About the Practice
My Ellicott City Dentist provides patients with the best orthodontic care available in Ellicott City, MD. Led by Drs. Andrew Aziz and Mehreen Haque, the staff keeps the dental care experience comfortable, effective, and hassle-free. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry in addition to Invisalign treatments. For more information on keeping on top of your Invisalign treatment during the holidays, contact the office online or dial (410) 480-2000.