Invisalign can be an incredible way to straighten out your smile without worrying about dietary restrictions or wearing irremovable and conspicuous metal parts. While this makes it a great option for many orthodontic patients, this treatment still requires significant effort on the part of the patient in order to proceed properly. Here’s how to keep your Invisalign treatment on schedule if you’re feeling under the weather.
Stay Hydrated
Hydration is a key part of oral healthcare because it keeps your body hydrated enough to produce an ample flow of saliva while helping to wash harmful substances away from your teeth. Unfortunately, catching a cold or the flu can give you a nasty case of nasal congestion, causing you to breathe more with your mouth. This has the side effect of evaporating your saliva, drying out your mouth, and leaving your teeth more vulnerable to cavities. Keep drinking water to keep your fluids up if you aren’t feeling well.
Protect Your Teeth
Being sick may seem like a great excuse to sit around and indulge in comfort foods all day, but doing that can leave your teeth to deal with a wealth of cavity-causing starch and sugar. Tooth decay is especially problematic if you’re undergoing an orthodontic treatment. You’ll also need to keep wearing your aligners for at least twenty hours every day, and you can’t do that if you’re eating all day. While it’s important to consume plenty of nutrients if you’re not feeling well, consuming too much sugary or acidic foods and drinks can cause tooth decay and other oral infections.
Many people reach for cough drops when they aren’t feeling well, but these lozenges can be heavy on sugar. Try to find sugar-free cough drops and be sure not to chew on super-hard varieties. Cough syrup is similarly loaded with sugar, so if you take any before bed, be sure to thoroughly rinse out your mouth afterward.
Stomach acid is quite harsh on teeth, but brushing your teeth immediately after vomiting can help wear away your enamel. Even though you’ll probably want to brush immediately afterward, it’s best to just rinse your mouth out thoroughly with water and wait a full thirty minutes before brushing to let your teeth recover from the acid exposure.
You still need to keep on top of your Invisalign treatment if you are sick. By keeping these tips in mind, you can help keep your treatment on track so you can enjoy your realigned smile sooner.
About the Author
Dr. Alison Fitzgerald earned her dental doctorate at the Creighton School of Dentistry and has attended advanced courses with Partners in Synergy, the Kois Center, Progressive Orthodontics, and the American Orthodontic Society. She has learned a great deal about planning and executing complex cases with a high success rate and a favorable long-term prognosis. Her office in Tucson, AZ offers general, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as Invisalign. For more information on keeping your Invisalign treatment on track, contact her office online or dial (520) 338-2980.