You’re on your way to a straighter, healthier smile, and you don’t want to do anything that will delay your progress. However, Halloween is right around the corner, and the idea of giving up some of your favorite sweet treats might just seem impossible to do. What if you were told that you didn’t have to? Instead, you could have your fun while also moving forward in your pursuit of a more perfectly aligned smile. Read on to learn three ways you can better navigate this spooky holiday while wearing Invisalign.
Enjoy Your Favorite Candies in Moderation
One of the favorable aspects of Invisalign is that there are virtually no food restrictions. While you may not need to worry about chewy candies getting stuck between brackets, you should remember that all good things are best in moderation.
Eating too much candy raises your risk for tooth decay, which can be harmful to your oral health. This is why it’s imperative that you maintain optimal oral hygiene all the time, especially in the days leading up to and after Halloween.
Allowing bacteria to feed on the sugars inside your mouth will cause harmful acids to develop and break down the outer layer of tooth enamel, resulting in cavities. So, be careful how much you eat so that you don’t develop additional oral health problems that could cause a delay in your treatment.
Be Mindful of When You Eat
Snacking is not something your dentist will want you to indulge in while undergoing Invisalign treatment. The reason is that you need to wear your aligners 20-22 hours each day to ensure timely results.
If you are too busy to put your trays in because you want to eat pieces of candy throughout the day, you are likely to cause a delay in treatment. Instead, be mindful of when you choose to indulge. Make it part of your normal mealtime so that your trays are already out. Once you’re finished, you can clean your teeth (and aligners) before reinserting them and going on about your day.
Don’t Take Chances with Your Aligners
Wearing your aligners 20-22 hours each day is a must, and you understand the necessity for this rule. But eating one piece of candy with your trays still in won’t hurt, will it? Unfortunately, all it takes is one bite, and your aligners are ruined.
Although durable enough to withstand wear and tear throughout the day, they cannot endure the force that comes with biting down and chewing. This is why you have to remove your trays before eating. Trying to eat even a soft piece of candy while wearing your trays can result in damage that cannot be fixed. Instead, you’ll be required to receive a new aligner, which ultimately causes a delay in your treatment.
Don’t assume Halloween fun is out of the question. By being smart about when to consume your favorite sweet treats and committing to taking care of your teeth and gums before going to bed, you can celebrate with all the other ghosts and goblins but remain on track toward a straighter smile.
About the Author
Dr. Mariya Barnett completed her undergraduate and doctorate at the University of Michigan. She then obtained her Advanced Education in General Dentistry through a residency program at Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry. She and her team understand the slight changes that must occur when an individual begins Invisalign treatment. Navigating the holidays and all the many sweet treats this time of year, she invites patients to contact her office via the website or by calling (214) 373-9903 to learn how to stay on track.
