Getting Bad Breath Under Control During Your Invisalign Treatment

You will wear each clear aligner for around two weeks during your Invisalign treatment. But don't be misled, this is ample time for germs and plaque to form on them. Our Victoria dentists provide some advice on how to care for your aligners and keep bad breath at bay during your treatment.

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 have an unpleasant odour, you likely need to improve your oral hygiene routine. The majority of the time, bad breath during Invisalign treatment is the result of improper aligner care. Your teeth and breath should be fresh and clean if you maintain good oral hygiene.

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

It is possible to trap food particles and bacteria under your aligners if you replace them after brushing your teeth. Long-term, this could lead to issues with bad breath and oral health issues.

Try Using Mouthwash Too

Try using mouthwash after every meal, as well as after cleaning your aligners and brushing your teeth, to give your mouth an extra dose of minty freshness. Even mouthwashes formulated specifically for dry mouth are available, so you may be able to solve 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 Victoria 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 healthy salivary flow is an excellent remedy for Invisalign-related dry mouth. The mouth's natural cleanser is saliva, which is all the more reason why drinking enough water can help eliminate bad breath. Therefore, continue to consume copious amounts of water throughout the day, even slightly more than you normally would due to the need to keep saliva flowing.

Do Not Use a Toothbrush or Toothpaste on Your Aligners

Use a bar of mild antibacterial soap to clean your aligners after each use. This will ensure that they remain fresh and free of microorganisms that could be harmful or cause a foul odour. Toothbrushes and toothpaste can be abrasive and scratch your plastic aligners, allowing bacteria to thrive and cause 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.

Interested in learning more about Invisalign Clear Aligners? Contact our Victoria dentists for a consultation.