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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

4 Tips For Using Clear Dental Aligners

28 November 2022
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Not satisfied with the alignment of your teeth, but never wanted to do anything about it because you don't like the look of braces? If so, the solution you're looking for is clear dental aligners. These custom-made aligners move your teeth into the right position, all while using trays that are practically invisible to others. Here are a few tips for using clear aligners.

Keep Them In As Much As Possible

One of the advantages of using clear aligners is that they are removable and not fixed to your teeth. This allows you to take them out for eating, drinking, and keeping your mouth clean. However, it is crucial that you keep your aligners in as much as possible. The manufacturer of your alignment trays will have specific recommendations for how long to keep them in each day, but in general, you will want to wear them as much as possible.

Don't Eat Or Drink While Wearing The Trays

Clear alignment trays are only going to be able to do their job if you do not eat or drink while wearing them. Not only will certain foods end up staining the trays making them not clear, but hot beverages can cause the trays to become deformed. The only thing that you can consume while wearing the trays is plain water. Other than that, take the trays out to eat or drink.

Keep Your Previous Tray

You will be moving through a set of custom alignment trays to move your teeth into the right position. However, it is important that you hold onto the previous alignment tray until you are through the process of using the next tray. That's because if you run into a situation where your current tray becomes lost or damaged, you are supposed to wear your previous tray until your replacement tray arrives. Without that previous tray, you could be taking some additional steps back in the treatment process that you may not be aware of. 

Clean The Trays Regularly

Even though you are not eating or drinking while wearing the alignment trays, bacteria can still get within them and be trapped against your teeth. That's why you'll want to clean the alignment trays regularly. The manufacturer will have their own specific directions, but it is typically as easy as rinsing the trays in warm water. That's all it takes to keep them clean.

To learn more about clear aligners, contact a dental service in your area such as Koehn Dentistry & Aesthetics.