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Useful Tips For Avoiding Dry Mouth With Clear Aligners

Useful Tips For Avoiding Dry Mouth With Clear Aligners

Clear aligners or ‘invisible braces’ such as Invisalign are becoming popular in Singapore especially with wearers who want to pursue more discreet orthodontic treatments while studying or working. While invisible braces can fulfill this purpose, 2 of the most common side effects are dry mouth and bad breath – which can make you feel self-conscious and affect your self-esteem or mood.

Here are X useful tips to help you avoid dry mouth and bad breath to make your clear aligner experience more comfortable:

Causes of Dry Mouth and Bad Breath with Clear Aligners

It’s important to keep in mind that both side effects are due to your body’s natural reactions. Your body recognises the clear aligners as a foreign object in your mouth and naturally produces less saliva as a defense mechanism. This in turn leads to dry mouth as well as bad breath. Bad breath can also be caused by improper care of your clear aligners.

Tips for Dealing with Dry Mouth and Bad Breath

1. Stay hydrated

The best way to soothe dry mouth is to keep water at hand and sip it throughout the day. Not only is this an excellent way to get your daily water intake, but it helps to replace the lowered saliva production in your mouth due to clear aligners.

Foods with high moisture content such as fish, eggs, strawberries, bananas, carrots, and broccoli should also be worked into your diet. This keeps your body hydrated and can prevent dry mouth due to dehydration.

2. Avoid tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks

Tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and excess sugar can all contribute to dry mouth which may worsen your dry mouth symptoms. Consume these moderately, and increase your water intake instead. Smoking can also impair saliva flow, worsening your dry mouth or bad breath.

3. Maintain a regular dental care routine

Cleanliness in your mouth is vital while wearing clear aligners. After eating rinse your mouth and brush your teeth (if possible) to ensure no food debris remains. Food debris can attract bacteria, and excess bacteria growth can lead to bad breath or serious conditions such as cavities and gum disease.

4. Take care of your clear aligners properly

Your clear aligners are in your mouth for most of the day, and the same microorganisms that cause plaque on your teeth will also coat them over time. Keep them clean when you are not wearing them using these 7 tips for cleaning your clear aligners. Many clear aligner brands like Invisalign also offer their own range of cleaning products that safely and effectively sanitise your aligners to keep them spotless.

Find out about Clear Aligner treatment at FDC

Not everyone who gets clear aligners will experience dry mouth or bad breath – and there are ways to avoid these side effects too.

FDC’s team of experienced dentists is here to help you feel comfortable and confident throughout your orthodontics journey. We offer Invisalign treatments at our clinics, with 4 different packages depending on the severity of your orthodontic needs.

Book a Teleconsultation to find out more about the cost and treatment procedure for clear aligners, or make an appointment at one of our dental clinics across Singapore.