Halloween is widely regarded as the official holiday of candy and sweets in the US. Every year, the week before Halloween is somewhere between three and five percent of all candy sales. With all those treats flooding the streets, it’s hard to avoid them. If you wear Invisalign, you’ll be able to eat nearly anything you want, but there are still additional considerations.
If you want to learn four tips that can help you enjoy Halloween night while keeping your Invisalign treatment plan on track, continue reading.
1. Be Aware: What Goes In, Must Come Out
While there are no restrictions on what you can eat while wearing Invisalign, you must still moderate yourself. After you take your aligner off to enjoy candy and sweets, remember that whatever you eat needs to come off your teeth before you put your aligner back on.
If you don’t clean, all that syrupy, gooey sugar will be trapped against your teeth and your aligner with nowhere to go except into your enamel.
2. Make a Place in your Schedule for Candy Time
Remember that for your Invisalign treatment to be effective, you must wear your aligners for 22 hours per day. This means that you have a small window where you can take them off. If you plan on indulging in sweets or other Halloween delicacies, make sure you set aside time for that to happen.
3. Avoid Marathoning Snacks
If you’re someone who likes to savor their food, you’ll want to avoid that with candy on Halloween. Candies like Jolly Ranchers that are meant to dissolve are especially harmful because they feed your teeth sugar over a longer period. It’s the same if you snack on sweets throughout the day rather than waiting for your appointed candy time as mentioned above.
4. Avoid Costume Props That You Put in Your Mouth
Certain sacrifices must be made in the name of good oral health and straighter teeth. One of them is the inability to portray an accurate vampire or giant baby with a pacifier. Props like prosthetic teeth aren’t compatible with the Invisalign system, so try to avoid costumes that may require them like witches, vampires, and werewolves.
That is unless you want to put a humorous spin on it and claim that you’re a vegetarian version of the famous creatures of the night.
If you wear Invisalign, you’re better off on Halloween than someone who wears traditional metal braces. However, there are still several factors to consider that have been outlined above. If you have further questions on the limitations of Invisalign for Halloween indulgence, contact your dentist. They’ll be able to give you a better idea based on your unique situation.
About the Author
Dr. Bikram Singh fiercely believes in the power of customized care. He understands that every person is different and will have different needs for their treatment. Dr. Singh graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and received additional training from the Royal London Hospital. His education continues to this day through numerous advanced courses and professional organizations. To schedule an appointment, call (919) 460-5454 or visit the website to explore their services.