If this is your first holiday season with Invisalign, you might feel a little uncertain of how to proceed. After all, the last thing you want is to derail your treatment, delaying your results significantly. The good news is that you can enjoy the most wonderful time of the year to the fullest and stay on track with your clear aligner treatment. Here’s how!
Tip #1: Commit to Wearing Your Aligners for 22 Hours a Day
Since your aligners only work while you’re wearing them, it’s crucial that you stick to the “22-hour-a-day” rule. Whether you’re traveling out of town to see family or staying local to enjoy the holidays, don’t stray too much from this best practice! To help you stay on track, use the Invisalign app or the timer on your phone to track your wear time.
Tip #2: Keep Your Invisalign Case Close By
If you don’t have your Invisalign case close by, you might be tempted to wrap your aligners in a napkin while you eat. However, this is one of the most common reasons they get misplaced! Leaving them out on the table isn’t a good option either since they can quickly collect bacteria. Instead, rinse them off thoroughly and carefully place them in their designated storage case each time you remove them.
Tip #3: Brush and Floss After Each Meal
Brushing and flossing are always important, and your Invisalign treatment is no exception. To help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems, complete your oral hygiene routine after each meal. If you don’t, the aligners will trap food particles, sugar, and bacteria against your teeth for hours on end, which can quickly result in cavities. So, it’s easy to see why being consistent with this best practice is so crucial!
Tip #4: Keep Your Consumption of Added Sugar to a Minimum
During the holidays, you might be tempted to indulge in pumpkin pie, peppermint bark, and other sweet treats that only come around this time of year. While a bite or two certainly won’t hurt, eating sugar in excess can increase your chances of developing tooth decay. Therefore, do your best to be mindful of your sugar consumption. Even small changes (like choosing water instead of soda) can go a long way!
With a few minor adjustments, you can enjoy the holiday season and stay on track with your Invisalign treatment simultaneously!
About the Practice
Our team at Simply Orthodontics Worcester wants you to have the best of both worlds: a wonderful holiday season and a healthy smile! That’s why we prioritize patient education and are always here to answer any questions you have about what you should and shouldn’t do during orthodontic treatment. If you want to learn more about how to smoothly navigate the holidays with Invisalign or you’d like to schedule an appointment to start your treatment before the new year, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (508) 757-3173.