How Can Invisalign Improve Oral Health?

You’ve probably heard of Invisalign. This innovative orthodontic treatment straightens teeth and addresses other misalignment and bite issues without the need for conventional metal braces. This enables patients to avoid many of the frustrations of wearing braces, such as limitations as to what they can eat and difficulty cleaning their teeth.

Invisalign is primarily thought of as a cosmetic solution. However, a straight smile is also a healthier smile, meaning that as well as boosting your confidence in the way that you feel about your teeth, Invisalign is a very effective, functional treatment for improving your oral health. Here’s why.
 

When you use Invisalign, your teeth are easier to clean

Probably the most obvious reason why Invisalign can improve your oral health is that your teeth are going to be much easier to keep clean. This is because, unlike braces, Invisalign aligners can and should be removed for cleaning. As you can probably imagine, navigating around brackets and wires with a toothbrush can be tricky and time-consuming, making it fairly hard work for patients with braces to keep their teeth clean. Thankfully, with Invisalign you simply pop your aligners out and brush, floss, and rinse as normal. Being able to maintain your usual dental hygiene routine is a big plus when it comes to your oral health. Don’t forget that you will have to clean your aligners too, and your Invisalign provider will explain to you the best way to do this. It’s important because when you put your aligners back in, any residual bacteria or debris that’s left inside them will become trapped between the aligner and your teeth and may cause damage until you remove them.
 

Straighter teeth are less prone to decay and gum disease

When teeth are crooked, twisted and overlapping, it causes food debris and plaque to collect in areas that are much harder to reach with a regular toothbrush. The depth of these cracks and crevices are usually sufficient enough to enable plaque to build up and cause decay to develop. Gum disease is also more common in patients with misaligned teeth for the same reason. Gum disease occurs when the plaque that has collected in hard to reach areas begins to spread onto the gum tissue, where bacteria found in the plaque cause irritation, infection, bleeding, and other symptoms.

Gum disease is progressive and will get significantly worse without prompt treatment. Issues such as gum recession, deterioration of the structures supporting the teeth and tooth loss can follow. However, when you can keep up a robust oral hygiene routine, and with the thanks to Invisalign, it helps to keep decay and gum disease away.
 

Invisalign can also contribute towards whole body health

Many people are unaware that advanced gum disease has also been linked to a range of chronic, general health conditions. Patients who have reached the latter stages of gum disease could be at greater risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and even some cancers. Getting straighter, healthier teeth could potentially help you avoid such risks.

For more information about the benefits of Invisalign, including additional details about how Invisalign can improve oral health, or to schedule an appointment to discuss your candidacy for this treatment, please contact our dental team today at The Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry by calling (850) 810-0300.