Patients worry that wearing aligners will give them cavities. We at Dentistry on the Pines like to address this worry head on. Invisalign itself doesn’t cause cavities, but how you take care of your teeth and aligners during treatment can definitely increase your chances of getting cavities. Knowing how Invisalign affects your oral health can help you protect your teeth while you’re in treatment.
When bacteria in your mouth eat sugars, they produce acid that hurts the enamel on your teeth. This happens whether you wear Invisalign or not. Putting your aligners back on dirty teeth after eating, on the other hand, allows bacteria and food particles to stay on your teeth for hours at a time. If you don’t practice good hygiene, the aligners can trap everything against your teeth which can speed up the development of cavities. That’s why we stress the importance of brushing and flossing after every meal while you’re in Invisalign.
Invisalign is better at preventing cavities than traditional braces because you can take them off. Food can get stuck around the brackets and wires of fixed braces which makes it hard to clean your teeth. Invisalign aligners come off completely, so you can brush and floss without any problems. If you take advantage of this, it will be easier to keep your mouth clean. The most important thing is to create good habits and stick to them.
Many people in Vaughan ask if they can just rinse their mouth with water after a quick snack and not brush their teeth. We strongly advise against it. Bacteria can eat sugar and other things that get stuck on your teeth after a quick snack. Putting your aligners back in without brushing makes it easier for cavities to form. We recommend bringing a travel toothbrush and toothpaste with you so you can brush your teeth properly no matter where you are. If you really can’t clean your teeth, at the very least rinse your mouth well with water and wait a little while before putting your aligners back in.
Drinking anything other than water while wearing your aligners also increases the chance of getting cavities. Soda, juice, coffee, tea and other beverages can get under your aligners and soak your teeth with sugar or acid. That’s why we tell patients to take their aligners out before drinking anything other than plain water. Some people try to cheat by drinking through a straw while wearing aligners but the liquid still gets to your teeth and causes problems.
Regular dental checkups while you’re in Invisalign will help find any cavity problems early. We usually tell patients to come in for cleanings and checkups every 6 months or more often if needed. We can monitor your dental health during these appointments and take care of any problems before they get worse. We offer thorough exams as part of our General Dentistry services to look for early signs of decay.
The good news is that patients who practice good Dental Hygiene habits while in Invisalign generally end up with healthier teeth than when they started. Taking care of your Invisalign requires a lot of discipline which might make people brush and floss more often than they did before treatment. This new habit is good for their dental health in more ways than just straightening their teeth.
We can fix a cavity that develops while you’re in Invisalign. You can generally fill small cavities without having to stop using your aligners. Another reason why cleanliness is so important is because larger cavities may mean you need to change your treatment plan.
Note: We can fill cavities while you’re in Invisalign. You can usually fill small cavities without having to stop using your aligners.
Invisalign doesn’t cause cavities but not brushing and flossing your teeth while you have them can. You are responsible for brushing your teeth after every meal, flossing every day, not drinking sugary drinks while wearing aligners, and keeping both your teeth and aligners clean. Patients who follow these rules don’t have a higher chance of getting cavities and their oral health may even get better.
At Dentistry on the Pines, we give you step by step instructions on how to take care of your teeth while you are getting Invisalign. We want you to leave treatment not only with straighter teeth but also with healthy teeth free of cavities and gum disease. If you’re thinking of getting Invisalign in Vaughan but worried about getting cavities, book a consultation with us. We can talk about the best ways to take care of your teeth and answer any questions you have about how to keep your mouth healthy while you’re getting aligners.