Oral Hygiene with Clear Aligners
Portland, OR
 Clear aligners are an alternative to traditional metal braces for straightening teeth, correcting overbites and underbites. Aligners are easy to use. You need to wear them for 22 hours a day so they can do the work to straighten your teeth, removing them only to eat and to brush and floss your teeth. People will not be able to tell you are wearing aligners unless they are very close to you. Sets are worn for two weeks, and treatment takes 12-18 months on average.
There are many benefits to clear aligners over braces. | • |
Clear aligners are nearly invisible, so no one will know you are straightening your teeth
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Treatment for clear aligners is usually shorter than that of braces with brackets and wires
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Treatment with aligners does not require multiple office visits as regular orthodontia work can
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Clear aligners are easier on your teeth and gums, as there are no poky wires or metal brackets to scrape and irritate your lips and gums
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There are no limitations to what you can eat and drink
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Clear aligners are removed while you brush your teeth, making cleaning your teeth much easier |
Brush and Floss As Usual
Another one of the main benefits of clear aligners is their ease of care. It is much easier to brush and floss your teeth while using clear aligners compared to caring for braces. It can be difficult to brush around metal braces, brackets, and wires. However, with clear aligners, you simply remove them to brush your teeth. This allows you to follow your regular oral hygiene routine of brushing twice a day, and flossing once a day. There is also not the fear that many have when wearing standard braces of teeth staining and having white spots on your teeth after your braces are removed.
How Do I Clean My Aligner?
Cleaning your aligner isn’t difficult either. Simply brush it with a soft bristled toothbrush and cool water. You do not want to use hot water, as this may cause the aligner to become misshapen. If you do not have time to brush after every meal, you should at least rinse out your aligner with water. It is important to keep your aligner clean and you do not want to put it back into an unclean mouth.
Aligning Your Teeth Can Prevent Gum Disease
When teeth are crooked, crowded, and misaligned, this makes it much easier for food, plaque, and bacteria to develop inside of your mouth. Brushing and flossing between your teeth can be very difficult. This can quickly lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease often occurs in people with misaligned teeth since the plaque can easily spread to your gum tissue, causing problems like sensitivity, bleeding, and infection.
Keeping your teeth and your clear aligner clean is a simple process. It is important to be consistent in the daily cleaning of both your teeth and your aligner. For more information on clear aligners, please contact Senestraro Family Orthodontics at (503) 228-1945 to schedule a consultation toward getting straighter teeth today!
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