With the cold and flu season coming into full swing, you may want to do your best to avoid falling sick. It’s important you safeguard your health, but one way you can do this is by taking extra care of your Invisalign. It might seem odd, but tightening your clear aligner routine can be helpful in avoiding illness. Here are four tips that you should consider following to do just that.
1.) Wash Your Hands Before Touching Your Aligners
Throughout the day, you come into contact with so many different surfaces. Doorknobs and shopping carts are some high-touch items that can harbor germs. If you don’t wash your hands before taking out your Invisalign, then you may be exposing yourself to those bacteria.
By simply washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, you can clean your hands relatively effectively. Don’t forget to do your palms, between your fingers, and under your nails! An alcohol-based hand sanitizer can also be beneficial if a sink isn’t nearby.
2.) Keep Your Trays in Their Case
You might have a habit of leaving your aligners on the counter, table, or desk. However, these places may have more germs on them than you realize. In fact, the University of Arizona found that cell phones have 10 times more bacteria than toilet seats, while desks can have up to 400 times more!
Take an extra moment to wipe down and clean your workplaces and personal spaces, but better yet, use a case for your trays as well! Place them in there when you aren’t wearing them, so they don’t get exposed to harmful germs while also staying protected.
3.) Thoroughly Clean Your Aligners
If you do end up catching a cold or the flu, then be sure to stick with keeping your Invisalign in. However, once you are all better, clean out your trays. They may be harboring lingering viruses, so scrub them with a spare soft-bristle toothbrush and mild soap. You can even soak your aligners in cleaning crystals for a deeper cleanse. This is a simple step that can help lower your risk of reinfection.
4.) Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking water can also be helpful in the long run. When you are sick or breathe in cold, dry air, you may impact your saliva production. You won’t be able to make as much, which can allow harmful bacteria to linger and attack your teeth and gums. Developing cavities and other dental problems may cause delays in your Invisalign treatment.
Follow these simple tips during the cold and flu seasons to help prevent illness. Stick to them, and hopefully you can avoid getting sick this time of year!
About the Author
Dr. Annie Yu earned her dental degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. With over 20 years of experience, she is happy to give the Chevy Chase community a straighter smile with reliable treatments like Invisalign. By tailoring your treatment to you, you can trust that you get the healthier bite you deserve. If you need more tips on taking care of your aligners, schedule an appointment or call Dr. Yu’s office at (240) 743-4421.