How To Stay On Track With Your Invisalign Treatment – Holiday Edition!

The holiday season is one of the best times of the year. Between shopping for friends, traveling to spend time with loved ones, and meeting deadlines before your time off, it’s also one of the busiest times of the year! To avoid unwanted delays, read on to learn how to stay on track with your Invisalign treatment during the holidays.

1. Keep Travel-Sized Oral Hygiene Essentials with You

Whether your holiday plans include going on a road trip, flying to a tropical destination, or staying local, you need to keep travel-sized oral hygiene essentials with you. That way, you can easily brush and floss your teeth after each meal. If you don’t, then food particles will get trapped against your teeth by your aligners, increasing your risk of tooth decay and, in turn, treatment plan delays.

2. Don’t Wrap Your Aligners in a Napkin

Patients are often tempted to wrap their aligners in a napkin when they are eating at a restaurant or enjoying a meal at a loved one’s house. However, this is one of the most common reasons they get damaged or misplaced. So, don’t wrap your trays in a napkin or leave them on your plate. Instead, rinse them with clean, cool water and place them in their designated case.

3. Make Water Your Drink of Choice

During the holiday season, you might feel like starting your morning with a peppermint mocha or ending your evening with a glass of wine. While indulging now and again is certainly okay, it’s important not to make it a daily habit. After all, you have to remove your aligners to drink beverages like these, and you need to wear them for a minimum of 20 hours a day. So, make water your drink of choice!

4. Be Mindful of Added Sugar

Pecan pie, candy canes, peppermint hot chocolate, and marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes are all holiday staples. Unfortunately, they have another thing in common: they are loaded with added sugar. Since sweet treats like these can lead to cavities, it’s best to indulge sparingly. Instead, opt for roasted carrots, fresh cranberries, juicy turkey, and other seasonal staples that are more smile-friendly.

5. Don’t Forget Your Check-in Visits

With so much to do – from preparing for guests to packing for your vacation – it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. Don’t let that happen with your check-in visits! These appointments allow your dental team to monitor your progress and, if necessary, make changes to your treatment plan. In other words, they play a crucial role in the teeth-straightening process, so don’t skip them.

About the Practice

Our team at Valley Dentists of Belchertown doesn’t just want you to have a beautiful, healthy smile; we want you to enjoy the journey along the way! That’s why we utilize state-of-the-art technology, welcome multiple financial solutions, and offer discreet treatments, like Invisalign. If you are interested in learning more about clear aligners, then schedule a consultation with us via our website or by phone at 413-323-4335.