One of the drawbacks to getting braces is that they are notoriously difficult to keep clean. Even when you carefully follow a “braces-friendly food” diet, you may still find yourself with food particles trapped between the brackets, wires and your teeth. Not only can these stray food particles cause some embarrassment in your day-to-day life, but you may also end up with an increased risk for cavities or stained teeth. That’s hardly the outcome you want after investing in a new smile!Invisalign is an alternative to braces that uses clear, removable aligners to straighten your teeth. In addition to being a more discreet and private option over braces, Invisalign also offers important oral hygiene benefits, too. As you evaluate different teeth straightening options, keep the following in mind.
1. Brush and floss like you normally do with Invisalign.
With Invisalign, you can remove these clear aligners any time you eat, drink, brush or floss your teeth. You can continue your regular oral hygiene habits and keep using your standard toothbrush and floss. With braces, you’ll need to floss and brush after every meal, and may need to use special floss picks because of your braces. Brushing after every meal will be essential to remove food from your braces and prevent staining. You will also need to use mouthwash regularly to reach those hard-to-access crevices you may miss during regular brushing.
2. Watch out for stained teeth with braces.
With braces, you'll need to carefully avoid foods and drinks that are known to discolour or stain teeth. These include coffee, soda and anything with food colouring. You'll also need to watch out for foods containing ingredients like tomato paste, which can stain ceramic brackets and easily discolour teeth. If you have Invisalign, you'll be able to dig into that big bowl of pasta or indulge in your daily cup of coffee without any fear. Since Invisalign aligners are removed before eating and drinking, you do not need to worry about uneven staining or discoloration.
3. Do not use whitening toothpaste with braces.
This may come as a surprise, but many toothpastes available today contain whitening agents that should be avoided if you are wearing braces. These whitening agents can cause the opposite problem, causing your teeth to be too "light" so when the brackets are removed there is a darker discoloration spot in the middle of your teeth!
While this problem is rare, it can happen, so it's an important consideration when evaluating your teeth straightening options. If you’re dreaming of a straighter smile, Invisalign is a discreet, effective alternative to braces.
Just like with braces, Invisalign will slowly move your teeth into their correct position. Unlike braces, however, with Invisalign you can remove these clear aligners at any time. This flexibility and freedom means you can enjoy all your favourite foods and drinks without compromising your oral hygiene or worrying about inadvertently discolouring your teeth.
There are many important considerations when choosing a teeth straightening treatment. Your orthodontist can help you consider different options and determine which treatment choice is right for you. Have more questions? Find an orthodontist location near you.
