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Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It is the time to cherish beautiful memories with your family and enjoy tasty Thanksgiving meals such as turkey and pumpkin pies. But what if you’re going through a clear aligner journey?
With an ongoing teeth straightening procedure, it might be difficult for you to enjoy holiday meals. But don’t worry! We have all the tips and tricks for you to help you enjoy this festivity without missing out on your favorite meals.
What are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners are a series of customized plastic dental trays placed inside your mouth to straighten your smile. The advancements in orthodontics have introduced this comfortable and convenient teeth straightening option, which is a perfect alternative to traditional metal braces.
How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Clear aligners are customized according to your smile and work by applying gentle pressure on the teeth, shifting them to the desired position. A patient is suggested to wear each set of aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day. After wearing them for 10 days, you can start wearing the next set of aligners.
Unlike traditional metal braces, they do not require dental visits for adjustments. With the help of clear aligners, you can now achieve your dream smile from the convenience of your home.
Tips For Celebrating Thanksgiving with Clear Aligners
While you are going through clear aligner treatment, the below-mentioned are some tips for you to follow:
1. Keep a Healthy Diet
Thanksgiving is all about having your favorite meals, but you should not compromise on your dental treatment as well. Furthermore, try to incorporate meals that do not risk your dental health, such as vegetable dishes and some fruits here and there. Be informed of what meals you are going to have to manage your clear aligner-wearing time.
2. Remove Clear Aligners Before Having a Meal
One of the best features of clear aligners is their removability. If you are going through clear aligner treatment, it is suggested to take them off before having a meal. Biting or chewing while wearing clear aligners can hurt your gums. Furthermore, eating or drinking with aligners is prohibited to prevent damaging or staining them. Make sure to follow this tip to have a safe, clear alignment journey ahead.
3. Keep Your Aligners Clean
For safe dental treatment, a hygienic dental product plays a crucial role. Keeping your aligners clean helps you have a safe teeth straightening procedure. Therefore, rinse your aligners under water before putting them on to wash away any germs present on the surface and prevent bacterial buildup in your mouth. Keeping your smile clean is as important as cleaning your aligners; therefore, brush your teeth when putting the aligner on.
4. Keep Drinking Water
While having fun with your family and enjoying different meals, remember to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated plays a crucial role in maintaining your overall dental health. Furthermore, drinking water also washes away the remaining food particles in your mouth, thus preventing the chances of plaque accumulation.
5. Keep a Dental Kit
With clear aligner treatment, you need to be prepared for any situation. As mentioned earlier, you need to take off your aligners before having a meal; you need to keep an aligner care kit with you all the time. It includes a pull tool, chewies, a carrying case, and an aligner cleaner.
6. Avoid Sugar Intake
Intake of sugary items is not only hazardous to your dental health, but it can also damage your clear aligners as well. High sugar intake can lead to dental decay, aligner staining, and much more, which harms your clear aligner treatment.
This holiday season, try to limit the intake of sugar to promote good oral hygiene as the sugar slowly attacks the enamel layer, leading to severe dental problems such as sensitivity or tooth decay.
7. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Brushing your teeth twice a day is an important tip to maintain good oral hygiene. After enjoying all the Thanksgiving meals and cherishing the moments with your family, do not forget to brush and floss your teeth properly.
8. Limit Snacking
By limiting snacks, you can avoid hard or crispy food items. With fewer snacks and meals, you will have to remove your aligners less since frequently removing your aligners can cause damage. This will help you maintain your dental hygiene and aligner-wearing time.
9. Avoid Sticky Food
Sticky food items such as caramel or toffee can get stuck to your teeth and might not be removed with regular cleaning. These food items should be avoided for enhanced hygiene and to ensure you don’t face any challenges when cleaning your clear aligners.
10. Book Your Dental Appointment
After all the fun and having delicious meals, get your smile checked. Your dentist will examine your oral condition and will suggest tips accordingly. Keep a check on your dental condition to make sure the clear aligner teeth straightening procedure is carried out smoothly.
Begin Your Clear Aligners Treatment with ALIGNERCO
Considering all the patient's requirements, ALIGNERCO offers convenient at-home teeth straightening procedures. These are customized according to your smile to ensure comfort. Begin your clear aligner treatment by following the below-mentioned steps:
1. Make an Order
Order an at-home teeth straightening kit, which comes with an impression kit. By following all the guides mentioned in our instruction booklet, create your dental impressions and send them to us.
2. Treatment Plan For Your Smile
Depending on your dental condition, a 3D treatment plan will be generated, showcasing your treatment results.
3. Begin Your Clear Aligner Journey
We will deliver clear aligners to your doorstep so you can wear them and head towards a straightened smile.
To sum it up, Thanksgiving is a holiday to cherish special moments with your family. But if you are going through clear aligner treatment, do not let it disturb your happy moments. By understanding your dental requirements, you can enjoy the holiday even while wearing clear aligners. Consider what you eat and drink throughout the day, but make sure your aligners are off. Regular brushing, flossing, and keeping your dental product hygienic are important tips to follow to have a stress-free Thanksgiving celebration.
FAQs
1. What are clear aligners?
Clear aligners are plastic dental trays that offer a snug fit to your teeth and move them to the desired position. This procedure helps treat mild to moderate dental conditions.
2. How long should I wear my clear aligners?
Clear aligners are worn for 20 to 22 hours per day. Each set of aligners is worn for 10 days before shifting to the next one.
3. Can I eat with my aligners on?
No! Eating with aligners is strictly prohibited. Clear aligners are made of plastic, which is why a slight pressure or force can damage your gums as well as your aligners.
4. What should I avoid eating in the Thanksgiving celebration?
Try to avoid hard, sticky, and chewy candies or snacks. These can get stuck in your teeth and can lead to further dental complications. For a safe clear aligner treatment, incorporate healthy diet options in your meals.
5. How long is the clear aligner treatment?
Unlike traditional metal braces, clear aligner treatment takes four to six months to straighten the smile.
