Is It Possible to Get Cavities During Invisalign Treatment?

Are you contemplating the prospect of straightening your teeth with orthodontia? If you choose to get Invisalign, you can look forward to many benefits, such as a beautiful smile and the ability to eat all of your favorite foods. But you may wonder, will Invisalign have any impact on your oral health risks? Is it possible to get cavities during Invisalign treatment? Read this blog post to discover important information.

Can Cavities Develop During Invisalign Treatment?

Even though Invisalign aligners place a barrier around your teeth, you can still develop cavities during treatment. Here is how that could happen:

• Since you should not wear your aligners during meals, foods and beverages will still come into contact with your teeth. The sugars and starches in those foods can interact with your oral bacteria, leading to plaque formation and decay.
• If you do not thoroughly clean your teeth after meals, food particles may get trapped against them when you are wearing your aligners. Since your saliva will not be able to wash those particles away, you may actually be more likely to develop cavities than someone who is not using Invisalign.

Preventing Cavities During Invisalign Treatment

Do not let the above information scare you. It’s actually pretty easy to keep your risk of cavities to a minimum while you are using Invisalign! Here are some helpful tips:

• Clean your mouth after each meal. Keep a small oral hygiene kit with you so you can freshen up your smile after meals and snacks.
• Rinse your aligners regularly. You should always give your aligners a thorough rinse before you place them back on your teeth.
• Mind your eating choices. There is nothing wrong with eating an occasional treat, but most of the time, you should try to minimize your intake of sugary foods and beverages. Also, you should never drink anything other than plain water while your aligners are in your mouth.
• Visit your dentist regularly. Invisalign checkups are not a substitute for routine cleanings and exams. You should attend a preventive appointment every six months.

What If You Develop a Cavity?

If you notice that one of your teeth has a small hole in it, or that one of your teeth is more sensitive than it used to be, you might have a cavity. Visit your dentist as soon as you can; in all likelihood, they will place a tooth-colored filling into the spot of decay to prevent the problem from worsening and protect the sensitive inner layers of your tooth.

The filling should not interfere with your Invisalign treatment. However, some patients have noticed a temporary increase in sensitivity and soreness when their aligners touch their new restoration.

Cavities can develop at any time — even during Invisalign treatment! Take practical precautions so you can maintain a healthy and strong smile.

Meet the Practice

Drs. Sowter and Ricke have many decades of combined experience in dentistry. They are proud to offer Invisalign, tooth-colored fillings, preventive care, and a wide range of other services for patients in the Raleigh community. If you have questions about what to expect while you are straightening your teeth — or about anything else that relates to your oral health — they would be happy to speak with you. Get in touch with our team at 919-781-8610.