How to avoid bad breath while wearing braces or Invisalign

The road to a beautiful and straight smile is through braces or Invisalign. Orthodontic treatment is an investment in your smile and your life, but it takes time and commitment to clean your teeth and appliances. You need to do it correctly so that you don't accumulate food and bacteria that can lead to bad breath.

Here are ways to eliminate bad breath so you can smile and talk with confidence while going through orthodontic treatment. Some of the tips listed below can apply for both braces and Invisalign wearers. Use them as you see fit.

Fresh breath tips for the braces wearer:

1. Eat a healthy diet. Protein-rich foods, vegetables, fibers and grains are easily digested, minimizing the potential for bad breath. Foods that have high calcium content such as low-fat yogurt, cheese, milk and other dairy products support strong bones and healthy teeth, and do not contribute to bad breath. Sugary foods tend to stick on teeth longer and contribute to bad breath. When carbohydrates sit on the teeth for too long, bacteria in the mouth start to ferment, secreting acid and causing decay, which in turn causes the secretion of sulfur gas and leads to halitosis, the technical term for bad breath. 
2. Drink less sugary products. Since anything with sugar tends to contribute to bad breath, try to cut down on juice, carbonated soda, and other sugary drinks. Not only you will cut down on bad breath, you will cut down on getting cavities.  
3. Brush and floss after each meal. If you brush and floss your teeth right after each meal, you dislodge any remaining bits of food so that they do not stick around in the mouth long enough to cause bad breath. Brushing and flossing also reduce your risk of getting tooth decay and stains.  
4. Use a water flosser. A water flosser will displace most plaque and bacteria that sit right above the gum and around the brackets to keep your mouth clean and cut down on bad breath.
5. Scrape your tongue in the morning. The tongue traps more than 50 percent of bacteria that contribute to bad breath. In the morning, use a tongue scraper to clean and scrape your tongue for one minute. You will get rid of most of the bacteria that excrete sulfur gas and contribute to bad breath.

Fresh breath tips for the Invisalign wearer.

1. Brush your Invisalign trays 2-3 times daily. Food particles and build-ups around the trays contribute to bad breath so brush them well and keep the trays clean. 
2. Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth daily to keep your teeth clean and fresh.  
3. Remove trays while you are eating. Eating with the trays in the mouth contribute to more food impaction, more risk of tooth decay, and more bad breath. Always take the trays out while you eat, whether you are at home or in public.  
4. Keep your mouth hydrated. A dry mouth will lead to bad breath. By sipping plenty of water, you will keep your mouth hydrated. If you are out and about and cannot brush your teeth after a meal, then take a sip of water and swish around to clean out lodged food. If water is not available, licking your teeth for about 20 to 30 seconds and bath your teeth in saliva so that saliva can wash out food and bacteria to cut down on bad breath.  
5. Rinse your mouth with Listerine to get rid of more bacteria and leave your breath minty fresh.  

Whether you wear braces or Invisalign, don't forget to get regular cleanings and cavity check-ups at your general dentist. Cavities and gum diseases are the primary reasons that contribute to having bad breath. When you see your family dentist, you get regular detection to prevent these oral diseases, and minimize bad breath.

Together you, your general dentist and the Care Orthodontics team will monitor your teeth. Take care of your teeth and smile and you will maintain fresh breath during your orthodontic treatment. For more information, visit our website at www.CareOrthodontics.com.

How to care for your smile while wearing Invisalign aligners

Wearing Invisalign aligners is exciting because you are on your way to getting straighter teeth and a beautiful smile. However, you don't want to discover decay underneath. That's why it is important to know how to care for your smile while wearing aligners.

Take your trays out to eat:

It is critical that you eat without wearing your aligners. Eating with aligners in your mouth can create more food impaction between teeth. You can wear down your trays quickly and create perforations and tray breakage if you eat with them in.

Brush your trays frequently:

The trays will cake with build-up quickly if you do not brush them daily. We recommend brushing the trays at least one or twice a day with liquid soap and water.  You can also use commercial cleaning tablets if that is your preference. Brushing the trays will keep your aligners clean, eliminate any type of stains, keep your breath smelling fresh, and prevent food and debris from getting into your teeth.

Brush your teeth routinely:

Whether or not you wear Invisalign aligners, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day or after every meal using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Remember your dentist's or hygienist's recommendations about holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle. Use circular motion to get all the plaque removed.

Do the same while you wear Invisalign aligners. Remove your trays and brush daily. If you are at work or school and it is difficult to brush right after eating, take a sip of water and swish around to get rid of most of the food and sugar around the teeth. 

Floss your teeth daily:

Have you heard of the expression, "Flossing is as equally important as brushing?" Flossing eliminates bits of food stuck in between the teeth and gums. This cuts down your risk of getting cavities and gingivitis. Trapped food gets pushed down into the gum pockets, causing swelling and bleeding of the gums. Flossing eliminates this problem. With aligners, it is easier and less time consuming to floss than compared to having braces. 

Rinse your mouth with Listerine: 

Before you go to bed and again in the morning, rinse your mouth with Listerine or an antibacterial mouthwash to clean your teeth, strengthen your enamel, and leave your breath clean, minty and fresh.

Once you develop a daily routine, caring for your smile is simple and easy. It does not take that long. By spending five minutes, two to three times daily, you will be on your way to developing great oral hygiene habits that prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease. Care for your smile now, and you will see a healthy smile at the end of your Invisalign treatment. Continue those same hygiene habits after Invisalign, and your smile can last a lifetime.

Visit us at www.CareOrthodontics.com for more information.