Clear aligners are made for the sole purpose of aligning your teeth. The aligners are fragile and can break or crack under intense pressure. This renders them ineffective. Here is why you should remove aligners while eating.
Clear aligners are plastic in nature. These are made from a thermoplastic material that cures into hard plastic. This property makes it easier for them to crack or break under intense chewing pressure. Patients should not be tempted to have a little food or snack with aligners on.
Also, patients should avoid any sugary foods such as ice cream. These sugars end up attaching onto the aligners and can cause the buildup of bacteria. But when the aligners are out, there is the freedom to eat anything. Patients should brush the teeth before putting aligners back.
While the dentist will say it is okay to drink water without removing the aligners, they will request for the removal of the aligners when eating. There is a possibility of having residual food particles on the mouth that leave a mark on the aligners. The food particles end up staining the aligners and cause discoloration. This is the same effect caused by smoking tobacco. During the treatment, the dentist will point out the importance of brushing and flossing teeth immediately after eating. This reduces the chances of staining the aligners as they are put back in the mouth after a meal.
When eating, food particles can get stuck in different places in the mouth. In most cases, the saliva washes away this residue from the mouth. But if one is eating with aligners on, there is a high probability that the food will be trapped between the teeth and the aligners. The saliva would not be able to wash away this residue. As a result, the residue might stay in contact with the teeth and lead to gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis advances and the layer between the teeth and gums becomes infected leading to tooth loss.
It is a common thing to have food stuck in the spaces between teeth when eating. This is no different when eating with aligners. But if one does not brush and floss their teeth together with these aligners especially in between the spaces, they will have bad breath. To avoid this, patients should ensure that clear aligners are removed before eating and the teeth are brushed before placing back the aligners. It is important to focus more attention on brushing the tongue. That is where most of this bacterial congress occurs.
Clear aligners are like bathtubs for your teeth. You do not want your teeth sitting on anything that will damage them. Also, remember to brush your tongue because that is where there are a lot of bacteria that cause bad breath to stay. If you have some questions or need some help with aligners, feel free to get in touch with your dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.tucsonazdentistry.com or call Advanced Family Dentistry at 5203533002 for an appointment in our Tucson office.
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