If you do not properly care for your Invisalign Clear Aligners, you may have difficulties like foul breath, discoloration of the plastic aligners, and even concerns with your general dental health.
If your Invisalign aligners smell bad, it's likely that your dental hygiene needs to be improved. Bad breath during Invisalign treatment is most often caused by not properly caring for your aligners. Teeth and breath should be fresh and clean if properly cared for.
Follow these recommendations to help you get the most out of your orthodontic treatment while also preventing unpleasant bad breath from developing.
Brush and Floss After Eating
If you put your aligners back in place before brushing, you can trap food particles and bacteria that are still in your mouth under them. In the long run, this could result in bad breath and possibly oral health issues.
Try Using Mouthwash Too
Use mouthwash after every meal, as well as after cleaning your aligners and brushing your teeth, to give your mouth an extra boost of minty freshness. There are even mouthwashes specifically designed for dry mouth, so you may be able to find a solution to all of your Invisalign-related issues.
It's possible that you're following these recommendations but still experience dry mouth or foul breath because of an underlying reason. Try contacting your Ottawa dental office for a consultation and to see if this is indeed the case.
Drink Water with your Aligners in
While you can drink water while wearing your aligners, it is generally recommended that you remove them before consuming anything else. Caffeinated beverages, like coffee or certain teas, can distort plastic, while dark liquids, such as red wine or cola, can discolour transparent aligners.
Maintaining a good flow of saliva is an excellent way to combat Invisalign's dry mouth. Saliva is the mouth's natural cleanser, which is why drinking plenty of water can help with bad breath. So drink plenty of water throughout the day, even slightly more than usual, to keep that saliva flowing.
Do Not Use a Toothbrush or Toothpaste on Your Aligners
After each use, wash your aligners with a bar of mild anti-bacterial soap. This will ensure that they stay fresh and free of microorganisms that could be harmful or cause them to smell bad. Toothbrushes and toothpaste are abrasive and can leave tiny scratches in your plastic aligners, allowing bacteria to thrive and produce an unpleasant odour.
Avoid Smoking While Wearing Your Aligners, or Plan to Quit
In addition to discolouring and smell, the chemicals in cigarettes can cause the aligners to become discoloured and retain part of the cigarette's scent.