Have you ever had to sit out on festivities or activities? It can be frustrating and put a damper on the holiday fun. Halloween is just around the corner, but will you be able to enjoy yourself if you’re straightening your teeth? Through Invisalign, orthodontic treatment doesn’t have to hinder your enjoyment. However, you do need to make some smart decisions if you want your smile to survive Halloween unscathed and to stay compliant with your treatment plan. Continue reading to learn more about these decisions and how to have fun this October.
Choose Your Costume Wisely
When considering your options for a Halloween party or trick-or-treating, try to avoid costumes that would require you to take out your aligners. For instance, dressing up as a vampire, werewolf, or other characters with nasty or scary teeth means you might not wear your aligners for the minimum 20 hours for that day. If you fail to follow this rule, your teeth will not shift according to plan.
Instead, you can select one of thousands of other costume options that won’t involve your teeth. This smart choice will allow you to stay on track and meet your daily wear time requirement.
Enjoy the Treats You Want Carefully
Perhaps one of the reasons you wanted to straighten your teeth with Invisalign is so you could eat whatever you like. That concept doesn’t change during Halloween, but you do need to be careful about certain temptations.
For example, snacking and partaking in a quick treat or drink are common during this time of year, but your aligners are not designed to handle the pressure and force of biting or chewing, and they can become discolored from substances other than water. Regardless of the type of food or beverage, don’t try to eat even a morsel or take a sip (unless it’s water) with your aligners in.
Another temptation is to overload on candy and sugar. While you can certainly have some in moderation, eating too much only increases your chances of tooth decay and enamel erosion, which can put your Invisalign treatment on hold if you require extra treatment.
Always Clean Your Teeth before Putting Aligners Back in
Especially after you’ve had a sweet treat, you must brush and floss your teeth prior to putting your aligners in place again. Otherwise, you trap sugar and bacteria tightly to your teeth, paving the way for cavities. If you want to avoid having to clean your teeth twenty times in a matter of hours, you can limit your eating to a particular timeframe and stop grazing throughout the day or at a party.
Although Invisalign comes with a few requirements and rules, you can still participate in the best festivities and fun this holiday has to offer while also reaching your smile goals by following these tips.
About the Practice
Williamsburg Dental has six locations in Lincoln to serve individuals and families throughout the city. Our dentists come highly trained and experienced with various treatments, including Invisalign. We are proudly in-network with most dental insurances, and we offer an in-house membership plan for those who don’t have benefits. To schedule your Invisalign consultation, contact one of our locations, and we’ll set you up for a straighter smile!