A Holiday Survival Guide for Invisalign Wearers: 4 Important Tips

Are you currently using Invisalign to straighten your teeth? It’s important to make sure that you aren’t doing anything that can disrupt your treatment – even during the holiday season. Of course, it can be easy to make mistakes in all the excitement, but luckily your dentist has some helpful advice for avoiding major issues. Below are 4 tips for getting through the holidays with Invisalign.

1. Be Mindful About Wearing Your Aligners for the Right Amount of Time

Between traveling, shopping, parties, and family gatherings, your schedule during the holidays is likely to be fairly hectic. Regardless of how busy you are, however, you need to make sure that you aren’t forgetting to wear your aligners. For your Invisalign treatment to stay on schedule, you must keep your aligners in your mouth for at least 20 to 22 hours a day.

The only time you should take your aligners out is when you’re about to eat or clean your teeth; it’s important to put them back in as soon as you’re done before you go rushing off to the next activity on your holiday schedule. It may help to leave yourself a reminder on your phone just to make sure that you don’t forget.

2. When You Take Your Aligners Out, Put Them In Their Case

When you sit down for a holiday meal, don’t just put your aligner in a napkin. This may seem like a convenient place to put it, but if you’re not careful, you may end up throwing it away by accident. It’s much safer to put your aligner in its storage case whenever you need to take it out of your mouth.

3. Keep Your Teeth Clean

After enjoying a holiday treat, you might be eager to put your aligners back in your mouth right away. Before you do so, however, you should make a quick trip to the nearest restroom so that you can quickly brush and floss. This gives you a chance to get rid of any tiny bits of food that might be lingering in your mouth so that they don’t get stuck between your teeth and your aligners.

4. Don’t Wear Your Aligners When Drinking Something Hot

If you enjoy a cup of hot chocolate during the holidays, be sure to always remove your aligners before you take a sip. If your aligners come in contact with anything hot, they may become slightly warped, which affects their ability to move the teeth correctly. As a rule of thumb, the only thing you should drink while wearing Invisalign is water.

By following the tips above, you can have fun during the holidays without interrupting your Invisalign treatment. If you have any concerns about your clear aligners, let your dentist know.

About the Author

Dr. Terry F. Rakowsky went to the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and he has completed continuing education courses at Dawson Academy and the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. At his practice in Doylestown, he is proud to be able to straighten his patients’ smiles with Invisalign. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rakowsky, visit his website or call (215) 348-2224.