Month: July 2022

Did you know that your mouth contains natural bacteria? As a byproduct of their growth, bacteria produce gas. This contributes to bad breath and the odor caused by your retainer.

Furthermore, bacteria contribute to the formation of plaque and tartar on your teeth as well as your retainer. If plaque starts to collect on the retainer, it will eventually emit a strong odor.

This is not something you want to put in your mouth. Fortunately, with regular maintenance, you can help reduce the risk of buildup and avoid the odor.

It all depends on how efficiently you care for your teeth and retainer when avoiding a bad odor.

Cleaning regularly is the only way to keep bacteria, plaque, and tartar at bay.

Here is a simple guide to what you need to do.

• Maintain Good Oral Hygiene to Prevent Bad Breath and Retainer Odors
• Keeping your retainer odor-free starts with your mouth, not your retainer. Oral hygiene is critical.
• Plaque, tartar, and bacteria can accumulate on your retainer’s surface, just as they do on your teeth. This buildup contributes to the unpleasant odor you may notice. While brushing and flossing your teeth are important for keeping these things in check, you should also regularly clean your retainer.

Keeping your retainer clean and odor-free is critical, but many popular cleaning methods can harm your retainer and oral microbiome. Hydrogen peroxide and persulfate (found in Efferdent, Polident, and other cleaning products) should never be used in your cleaning routine. Never use bleach, boiling water, and even regular toothpaste. Soak your retainer in distilled water (with baking soda and castile soap) to keep your retainer fresh. Soaking your retainer in white vinegar once a week or having it cleaned at the dentist can also help. After practicing these habits, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible if you can’t see any progress.

Retainers are a crucial part of the teeth straightening process. Once you finish the Invisalign treatment, your dentist will give you custom-made retainers. It is vital to wear your retainers as suggested by your dentist, so you have a prominent and straight-looking smile forever. Most people get confused when they are told to wear retainers, but there is nothing to worry about as the major chunk of the treatment is already done.

The most common question people ask about retainers is how long they need to wear them? And the answer to this is subjective. If you have minor dental issues, your dentist will initially suggest wearing retainers full-time for 2-3 months.

But you might have to wear your retainers for over 6 months if you have severe dental problems. However, the good news is that you do not have to wear your retainers forever. After wearing your retainers for more than 6 months, you can wear them only at night or skip wearing them for a day or two, which will not harm the progress.

How do the retainers work?

Retainers are made similarly to your Invisalign; they are transparent and the exact size of your teeth, so they fit your mouth properly. Retainers have a specific role to play in your teeth straightening treatment. Your teeth tend to shift back, and retainers hold them in their position, which prevents dental relapse. The main job of your retainers is to fit your teeth and put gentle pressure on them so they do not move. After Invisalign, your teeth leave behind gaps surrounding tissues and bones. And your retainer will hold your teeth in place while the gaps are filled with new and strong tissues and bones.

Last but not the least, if you experience any issue with your retainers or Invisalign, you must consult your dentist for proper treatment.

Invisalign is everyone’s first choice for teeth straightening treatment. Invisalign aligners are just like traditional braces but are more comfortable and easy. Traditional braces have metal wires, buttons, etc., but Invisalign is made up of clear plastic with no extra wiring or metal components, and they are removable at the same time, which makes them an ideal tool for the teeth straightening process.

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that works very well in giving the desired results. However, the one factor determining the success of the Invisalign treatment is how much time you are wearing them and following your dentist’s advice. If you are determined enough and follow all the rules, taking all the precautions with Invisalign, the treatment is a sure shot of success, and you will have a perfect smile by the end of the treatment. On the other hand, if you are not wearing your Invisalign aligners as told by your dentist or not maintaining proper dental hygiene and other guidelines, there are high chances your Invisalign treatment will not work.

A lot of patients have doubts about the success of the Invisalign treatment. But there are many benefits of this simple-looking tool called Invisalign aligners. On average, Invisalign treatment has a 96% success rate. In addition, you can opt for the Invisalign treatment for minor and major dental issues like gapping, cross bites, misalignment, etc. The Invisalign treatment lasts up to 9-12 months and provides optimum results. Therefore, sometimes people doubt the success of the treatment in such a short time as compared to the traditional metal braces.

Reasons why Invisalign treatment works

Various reasons make Invisalign effective; some of the reasons are listed below:

• Better oral hygiene because Invisalign aligners are removable, making it more effective.
• You do not need a lot of adjustment and regular dental visits.
•  Less soreness and discomfort, which gives effective results.
• You will get a new set of aligners after every 2 weeks.
• Help prevent gum disease and cavity.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!