Chad Latino DDS specializes in Invisalign services to help patients in the Waco, TX, area get the perfect smile they’ve been dreaming of. Invisalign is a clear and comfortable alternative to traditional braces for adults wanting straight and even teeth without metal wires and brackets. In addition to Invisalign, we offer various cosmetic dentistry options, including tooth whitening, veneers, and bonding. We understand how important it is for you to feel confident with your smile, and Dr. Latino’s team is dedicated to helping you look and feel your best!
If you’re considering using Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you may wonder if there are any restrictions on what you can do while wearing your aligners. Fortunately, the answer is no—you’ll still be able to eat, drink normally, and even chew gum. But does that mean it’s a good idea? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a revolutionary treatment that can help you get a great smile without needing to use braces. It’s a system of clear, custom-made aligners designed to fit each person’s teeth. The aligners gradually move the teeth into the desired position, and when it’s time to switch them out for the next one in the series, we need to check in with you! You’ll see your progress as your smile improves without having to say goodbye to traditional braces. Invisalign aligners are removable, adding to their convenience, especially compared to conventional braces, which you cannot remove. Plus, nobody will even know you have them on! You can keep living without any changes or disruptions throughout your Invisalign journey.
Chewing Gum While Wearing Invisalign
It’s good to start with the Invisalign basics to answer the question of whether you can chew gum with Invisalign. Although chewing gum won’t damage your aligners, it’s not the best idea for several reasons. First, when you chew gum, it gets stuck in the grooves and crevices of your teeth—which means it will also get stuck between your teeth and the aligners. This can make removing or putting in your aligners more difficult than usual. It can also cause bacteria to build up between your teeth and the aligners, which increases the risk of cavities and other oral health issues.
Another problem with chewing gum while wearing Invisalign is that it can move the aligners slightly out of place on your teeth. This could mean that instead of continuing to move your teeth into their ideal positions over time, they stay where they are until you remove the gum from between them and the aligner. Also, if you’re not careful, pieces of gum could accidentally get trapped behind an aligner or lodged in one of its grooves—making it very difficult to remove without causing damage to either the tooth or the aligner itself.
Finally, chewing gum could also affect how long it takes for your treatment with Invisalign to be completed successfully. For example, suppose pieces of gum get stuck between an aligner and a tooth for too long. In that case, it could prevent that particular tooth from moving into its ideal position as quickly as possible, so your treatment might take longer than expected.
Invisalign in Waco, Texas
Although chewing gum won’t damage an Invisalign aligner directly, there are still several reasons you should avoid it while wearing them. It can make removing or putting in an aligner more difficult than usual, increase bacteria buildup around each tooth, and cause them to move out of place or stay stagnant over time. As such, we recommend avoiding chewing gum while wearing Invisalign so that you can get the maximum benefit from this unique orthodontic treatment option! At Chad Latino DDS, we offer personalized advice about how best to care for your Invisalign during treatment. Contact us today if you have any questions!
