Since Invisalign gives you the freedom to eat whatever you want, your clear aligners won’t prevent you from enjoying your favorite sweet treats this Halloween. That being said, if you want your Invisalign treatment to stay on track, you will want to think carefully about the way you enjoy your candy. To help you protect your Invisalign aligners (and your smile) this Halloween, your orthodontist is here to offer 3 useful tips.
1. Always Take Your Aligners Out Before Enjoying Any Candy
It’s tempting to just pop a piece of candy into your mouth right away, but you should always take the time to remove your Invisalign aligners first. Trying to chew anything while wearing your aligners will expose them to a lot of pressure that could end up damaging them. Furthermore, the plastic may become discolored if it’s still in your mouth while you’re eating candy; as a result, your aligners will be much more noticeable.
Generally speaking, you should never consume anything besides water while wearing Invisalign. Make sure that your aligners are safely stored in their case before you indulge in any candy.
2. Avoid Taking Your Aligners Out Too Often
Around Halloween, you’ll probably end up eating a lot more candy than usual. As such, it’s important to make sure that you aren’t snacking on sweet treats too often. Your aligners need to be worn for 20 to 22 hours on a daily basis; if you’re repeatedly taking them out to eat candy, it could throw off your treatment progress. (And of course, there’s the fact that excessive candy consumption is less than ideal for your oral health in general.)
One way to avoid this issue is to eat candy with your meals. This way, you’ll minimize the amount of time your aligners spend outside of your mouth while also giving yourself the opportunity to satisfy your sweet tooth.
3. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
After you’re done eating your candy, you may feel like simply putting your aligners back in immediately. However, you should wait until your teeth have been cleaned first. After all, you don’t want the bacteria and sugar that can contribute to cavities to get trapped against your teeth for a large part of the day.
Carry a toothbrush with you so that you can brush after every meal or snack. Additionally, you can gently rinse your smile by sipping on some water.
There’s no need to avoid candy altogether, but taking care of your Invisalign aligners should always be one of your top priorities. Be mindful of your habits so that you can get through Halloween without worrying about disrupting your Invisalign treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Stan Drabik earned his orthodontic certificate at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and he is currently a member of the American Association of Orthodontists. He can help his patients achieve straighter, more confident smiles with Invisalign. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Drabik at Drabik Orthodontics in Rochester, visit his website or call (585) 730-7700.