Why Fresh Breath Matters During Braces or Invisalign Treatment
Having fresh breath isn’t just about feeling good around others—it’s also about your overall mouth health. When you have braces or Invisalign, your mouth needs more attention to stay clean and healthy.
With braces, food can get stuck in the metal parts, making it harder to clean your teeth well. If you wear Invisalign, your clear aligners can trap bacteria against your teeth if you don’t clean both your teeth and aligners properly. Taking care of your breath helps make sure your orthodontic treatment goes smoothly and keeps your teeth healthy at the same time.
Why Braces Can Make Fresh Breath Harder
Braces come with special challenges for keeping your breath fresh:
- Food Gets Trapped: The metal brackets, wires, and bands create lots of tiny spaces where food can get stuck. If not cleaned out, these food bits can cause bad breath.
- Plaque Builds Up More Easily: Braces give plaque more places to stick, which can lead to more bacteria and bad breath if not cleaned regularly.
- Harder to Clean Every Spot: Brushing around braces takes more work. If you miss spots, food and plaque left behind can cause bad smells.
Why Invisalign Can Make Fresh Breath Harder
Invisalign has its own set of challenges:
- Aligners Can Trap Bacteria: If not cleaned well, aligners can hold bacteria and food particles against your teeth, causing bad breath.
- Long Wearing Time: You need to wear aligners about 22 hours a day for them to work. Without good cleaning, this long time can lead to bad breath.
- Dry Mouth: Some people have less spit flow with Invisalign, which can make breath worse since spit helps clean your mouth naturally.
Tips to Keep Your Breath Fresh with Braces
Follow these simple steps to keep your breath smelling good while wearing braces:
- Brush After Every Meal: Take time to brush your teeth after eating anything. Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush around all parts of your braces for at least two minutes.
- Use Special Tiny Brushes: Get some interdental brushes (small brushes made for cleaning between teeth). These help clean between brackets and under wires where food gets stuck.
- Floss Daily: Use floss threaders or special orthodontic floss to clean between your teeth. Water flossers can also help blast away food bits that regular flossing might miss.
- Use Mouthwash: Rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash that kills germs. Pick one with fluoride to help protect against cavities too.
- Carry a Travel Toothbrush: Keep a small toothbrush and toothpaste with you so you can clean your teeth when you’re away from home.
- Drink Plenty of Water: Water helps wash away food bits and keeps your mouth from getting dry. Drink water throughout the day to help keep your breath fresh.
Tips to Keep Your Breath Fresh with Invisalign
Try these tips to maintain fresh breath while using Invisalign:
- Clean Your Aligners Properly: Rinse aligners with cool water whenever you take them out. Brush them gently with a soft toothbrush (but no toothpaste, which can scratch them). Use Invisalign cleaning crystals or a gentle soap made for aligners.
- Brush and Floss Before Putting Aligners Back In: Always brush and floss your teeth before putting your aligners back in. This keeps food from getting trapped against your teeth.
- Be Careful with Smelly Foods: Foods like garlic, onions, and coffee can make your breath smell. If you eat these, be extra careful about cleaning your mouth before putting your aligners back in.
- Clean Your Tongue: Use a tongue scraper or your toothbrush to clean your tongue each day. Lots of bad breath germs live on your tongue.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dry mouth, which can make breath worse.
Honey Orthodontics: Here to Help Keep Your Smile Fresh
We understand how important fresh breath is while you’re getting your teeth straightened. Our friendly team is here to help you with tips and products that make caring for your braces or Invisalign easier.
If you’re looking for orthodontic care call us today. We’ll help you keep your breath fresh during treatment and work with you to get the healthy, beautiful smile you want. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about how we can help!