Cold and flu season is upon us! Everyone should be taking precautions to protect themselves from illness, and this is especially true of SureSmile patients. Caring well for your clear aligners and your mouth can protect both your oral health and your overall wellness. Here are a few practical tips that can help:
Clean Your Hands Before Touching Your Aligners
Your hands can easily pick up bacteria and viruses as you go about your daily tasks. This is true whether you are out in public or you are taking it easy at home. Touching your aligners without first washing your hands could increase your risk of becoming ill. It’s a smart practice to scrub your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before you put them anywhere near your mouth or aligners. If no soap and water are available, you should at least use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before handling your aligners.
Do Not Place Your Aligners on Your Desk
You have to remove your aligners when you eat a meal or clean your teeth. It can be tempting to place them on the nearest flat surface, but caution is in order. Researchers have found that the average desk contains 400 times more germs than the average toilet seat! Even if you regularly disinfect your desk, you should still keep your aligners in their own designated storage case.
Clean Your Aligners Thoroughly
If you come down with a cold or a flu, you should still wear your aligners while you are recovering. After you are well again, you won’t have to throw away your aligners. However, it is important to remember that viruses and bacteria might still be lingering on them. Even though the chances of your sickness recurring due to micro-organisms left on your aligner are slim, it would still be smart to give them an extra-thorough cleaning once you are feeling better.
Stay Moisturized and Hydrated
Many people are prone to dry, chapped lips during wintertime. Chilly air outside, combined with indoor heating, can easily suck the moisture out of your lips. People who wear clear aligners might be especially vulnerable to this problem because the aligners can trap saliva, preventing it from lubricating the lips. Lip balm can help. Try to choose one that is colorless so it doesn’t stain your aligners. If the balm causes any sort of film to form on your aligners, it should be pretty easy to wipe off.
You should also drink plenty of water, which can prevent dehydration, lower your risk of dry mouth, and support your recovery if you come down with a cold or flu.
Cold and flu season is just getting started! Taking a few extra precautions throughout the fall and winter can keep your SureSmile aligners — and your smile — in good shape.
Meet the Practice
Drs. Bryan Griffith and Alex Hartgrove are the skilled dentists at Brookside Dental Care. They are proud to offer SureSmile clear aligners as one of their many services. If you would like to learn more about SureSmile or how you can care for your oral health during cold and flu season, they would be happy to speak with you. Contact our team at 606-874-9311.