The holiday season is a fun and exciting time. There’s always a lot going on, such as work events and visitors at home. Although the holidays are often filled with gifts and special times with friends and family, the highlight of every holiday is often the food. If you reflect on holidays of the past, you’ll probably remember good times with great food. Just because you’re wearing Invisalign aligners doesn’t mean you can’t partake in the wonderful foods that will be all around you. While everyone is different, the tips below can serve as a guide for how you can enjoy the holidays without getting off track with your Invisalign treatment.
Removing Aligners
While you should stick with your usual schedule for wearing aligners, there are some instances when they should be removed. Aligners are made from plastic and they can be damaged when drinking hot beverages. This includes coffee, hot cider, hot chocolate or any other holiday delight. Before you even think about drinking a hot beverage, take out your aligners until you’re done. This is also important when it comes to preventing any stains on them.
Prioritizing Brushing and Flossing
While brushing and flossing should always be a priority, it’s even more important when you’re wearing aligners during the holiday season. Even the most diligent person can cause problems by not brushing and flossing after each meal. Instead of taking your aligners off to eat and putting them back on right after you’re done, you’ll need to take the extra step of brushing and flossing after each meal. That means you may need to brush your teeth more often and should take the time to do so, even when you don’t feel like it.
Preventing Bacterial Growth
Bacterial growth on your Invisalign aligners is something that can occur when you don’t even realize it’s happening. For instance, if you leave your aligners out in the open and they get exposed to air, there’s a much greater chance of bacteria developing. This can be dangerous because you’ll end up putting aligners on that are contaminated, which ends up causing a problem with bacteria in your mouth. This can lead to decay and other issues. The solution is to keep your aligners clean and in the container when they are not being worn.
Soaking Your Aligners
It’s common to soak aligners to keep them clean. When doing this, avoid using hot water because it’s not good for plastic aligners. In fact, it’s never appropriate to use hot water to soak or clean your aligners. You should follow the guidelines provided when you first received your Invisalign aligners, especially as it relates to keeping them clean. It’s not a difficult process and usually requires the use of an anti-bacterial soap that’s safe for aligners. The bottom line is that it’s important to prevent bacterial growth. In addition to it being a health hazard, your aligners can also start to emit an odor.
It’s not hard to take care of your aligners during the holiday season. The tips provided can help you enjoy yourself without even thinking much about your aligners except for when you’re removing them to eat and cleaning them as usual. Since spending time with your friends and family is likely a priority during the holidays, give yourself a break if you keep your aligners off for an additional hour or two. This should be fine as long as it doesn’t become a habit.
