There are many ways Invisalign is different than traditional braces. In addition to being virtually undetectable, requiring fewer check-in visits, and having shorter treatment timelines (on average), they cover the entirety of your teeth instead of a small portion. Naturally, this might lead you to wonder, “Can I get cavities with Invisalign?” Keep reading to find out!

Can You Get Cavities with Invisalign?

Simply put: the answer is “yes.” While the custom-made, smooth trays are designed to cover all of your teeth, you need to remove them before eating or drinking anything other than water. As a result, food particles, plaque, and debris can still cling to the surface and eat away at the enamel. In fact, patients who don’t brush before putting their aligners back in or keep their trays on while drinking coffee, soda, and the like are more vulnerable to cavities, which is one of the many reasons why implementing a solid oral hygiene routine is so essential throughout your teeth-straightening journey.

7 Habits That Will Help Keep Your Teeth Decay-Free

Before you stress about cavities during your Invisalign treatment, it’s important to remember that they are largely preventable. All you have to do is implement good oral hygiene best practices, such as:

• Visiting your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
• Always remove your aligners before eating or drinking coffee, wine, soda, and the like.
• Brushing your teeth for a full two minutes and flossing after each meal.
• Cleaning your aligners after each meal.
• Rinsing with mouthwash each evening.
• Keeping your consumption of foods and beverages with added sugar to a minimum.
• Avoiding unhealthy dental habits, like smoking and chewing on ice.

The Secret to Cleaning Your Teeth (and Aligners!) On-the-Go

At first, completing your oral hygiene routine at the office or while out to dinner with friends might seem like a nuisance. Fortunately, there is something you can do to make it significantly easier: create an on-the-go dental care kit. In it, place a travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash. You can also add other must-haves, like your Invisalign storage case and an over-the-counter pain reliever. It won’t take up much space, and it will make keeping your teeth decay-free much more convenient!

Remember, while it is possible to develop tooth decay during your Invisalign treatment, it’s also largely preventable. So, make sure to implement the above best practices – it will benefit your oral health and prevent delays to your treatment timeline!

About the Practice

Patients of Simply Orthodontics – Framingham can turn to our two talented orthodontists for all of their teeth-straightening needs, including Invisalign. In addition to offering top-tier care and creating personalized treatment plans, we’re always here to answer any questions you have throughout your treatment and will happily share all of our tips and tricks along the way. If you’d like to learn more about keeping your oral health in tip-top shape during Invisalign or you’d like to schedule a consultation, visit our website or call (508) 250-0170.