Month: January 2022

Hey Braces and Invisalign Wearers! Are You Using Mouthwash Daily?

adults wearing braces and invisalign smile after using mouthwash

Whether you have braces or Invisalign®, it’s essential that you’re using mouthwash daily!

Did you know that when you brush your teeth, you only reach 25% of your mouth (Listerine®)? Reaching all of the spaces on your teeth, between your teeth and around your brackets and wires is key to maintaining a healthy smile and experiencing the best results from your treatment.

That’s where mouthwash comes into play! Gargling with mouthwash daily is a simple commitment with major health benefits. Mouthwash helps you eliminate plaque and bacteria, prevent gum disease and cavities, and freshen breath.

Let’s dive into the importance of mouthwash and which mouthwash is best for braces and Invisalign.

Can you use mouthwash with braces and Invisalign?

Yes you can and should! Mouthwash will not damage your braces. Your braces are made of high-quality, high-grade stainless steel materials or ceramic materials that won’t rust or corrode.

With Invisalign, you simply remove your clear aligners to brush, floss and gargle with mouthwash. You don’t have to worry about ingredients harming your clear aligners, because they won’t be in your mouth when you rinse!

The Importance of Using Mouthwash Daily with Braces or Invisalign

When you’re wearing braces, you have plenty of spaces for food particles to wedge themselves, debris to get stuck, and bacteria to grow. Using mouthwash daily helps to remove any particles left behind after brushing and flossing, and kills bacteria growing in hard-to-reach spaces.

Especially with innovative INBRACE® braces located behind the teeth, cleansing all surfaces of your teeth is crucial to maintaining strong teeth and healthy gums.

Mouthwash is just as important with Invisalign, even though your aligners are removable. Your toothbrush and floss can’t reach every space in your mouth, so a liquid antibacterial rinse is the perfect supplement to your routine.

Cleanse your smile and leave your breath smelling fresh morning and night with mouthwash!

What is the best mouthwash for braces and Invisalign?

It’s best to use an antibacterial, alcohol-free, fluoride mouthwash to clean your mouth, without disrupting your oral microbiome (the natural balance of chemicals in your mouth).

Though alcohol is used in a number of popular mouth rinses, it can actually do more harm than good. Have you experienced that near unbearable burning sensation when gargling mouthwash? That’s the alcohol!

Alcohol is extremely drying/dehydrating and rather harsh on the skin and gums. It’s infamous for disrupting the microbiome, throwing your natural pH out of whack, and worsening common oral conditions, like gingivitis.

  • It’s best to avoid alcohol mouthwash.

Fluoride, on the other hand, is beneficial for your teeth and gum health. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to prevent cavities and reverse early stages of gum disease (gingivitis) by strengthening the protective tooth enamel. When you strengthen the enamel, you give your teeth the best chance at protecting themselves against harmful bacteria and plaque.

  • Fluoride is essential for strengthening your teeth.

So now we know to avoid alcohol and look for fluoride and antibacterial properties. Let’s explore a few of the best mouthwashes for braces and Invisalign:

  1. Ortho Defense Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
    First up is Colgate Ortho Defense Anticavity Fluoride Rinse. This mouthwash is specially formulated for people undergoing orthodontic treatment, and it checks our criteria boxes: alcohol-free and includes fluoride. Ortho Defense mouthwash is approved by the American Dental Association, helps to remove white spots from the teeth, and strengthens enamel to help prevent cavities. It’s easily one of the best braces mouthwashes available!
  2. ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash
    ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash is another highly-effective mouthwash for patients with braces. It includes 0.05% sodium fluoride, which is the max amount of fluoride available in mouthwash form. This braces mouthwash option is alcohol-free, approved by the ADA, and uses fluoride. ACT Anticavity wash supports the teeth in re-mineralizing the softer spots on the teeth that are more susceptible to damage.
  3. Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash, Multi-Protection
    Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash Alcohol Free Multi-Protection also checks all of our criteria boxes. This specialized mouthwash helps to prevent cavities, kills bad breath germs, strengthens the enamel, includes fluoride and is alcohol-free. With a multi-protection formula that kills 99.9% of germs, this mouthwash leaves you with stronger teeth and fresh breath.

Do you need special mouthwash with braces and Invisalign?

You don’t need a special mouthwash with braces or Invisalign, but it doesn’t hurt to choose mouthwash that was specially formulated for ortho treatment smiles.

While wearing braces, it’s best to avoid mouthwashes that have whitening agents in them. Whitening your teeth with braces on can leave discolored spots on your teeth when your braces are removed. Wait until your treatment is over to whiten your teeth without any brackets or wires in the way.

With Invisalign, you can use mouthwash with whitening properties, as long as it has fluoride, is alcohol-free and is antibacterial!

Still have questions about mouthwash with braces or Invisalign?

If you have questions about mouthwash with braces or Invisalign, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We can help you choose the best mouthwash for your circumstances.

Ready to begin your journey toward your most confident smile? Get started by requesting your free exam with Dr. King or Dr. Welch, top orthodontists in Jupiter.

Is it Safe to Use a Magic Eraser on Teeth?

teen learns dangers of using magic eraser on teeth

TikTok continues to bring us many laughs, life hacks, and quirky dances! But there’s a viral TikTok out there about a woman’s oral health routine that’s not so fun or safe. The video seems innocent and informative at first until you witness the final part of her dental health care routine— where she uses a magic eraser on her teeth!

But are magic erasers toxic? And what happens when your teen takes a Magic Eraser or melamine sponge to their teeth? Parents, we’re here to help keep you informed so you can talk to your children about the damage caused by this trend! Our experienced orthodontists and our talented team want you and your child to have beautiful, healthy teeth that last you a lifetime.

Can you use a Magic Eraser on your teeth?

Please do not ever use a Magic Eraser or melamine sponge on your teeth or skin. This is a dangerous trend that can cause irreparable damage!

Although people report whiter teeth after using a Magic Eraser, there’s a reason for this—and it’s one that could lead to lifelong dental problems. Let’s dive into the mystery of the Magic Eraser and why a melamine sponge should never be used on the teeth.

Magic Eraser Ingredients

Melamine foam is the main ingredient in a Magic Eraser, and it contains a chemical called formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer. Although this chemical isn’t known to cause any serious health complications on its own, it’s an abrasive ingredient and not something you want to ingest or place near your gums.

The health and safety warning on a Magic Eraser box reads, “DO NOT USE ON SKIN OR OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY. USING ON SKIN WILL LIKELY CAUSE ABRASIONS. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF TODDLERS AND PETS TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL INGESTION.”

If the company itself advises you not to ingest this product, it’s a good idea to heed that warning! It’s never a good idea to place unknown ingredients and chemicals in your mouth.

Melamine Sponge and Teeth Enamel

The layer of enamel on your teeth serves the very important function of protecting the teeth from damage. Tooth enamel is actually considered the hardest mineral substance in the body, even stronger than bone.

The enamel is an excellent protector against damage caused by our regular daily functions, like eating, chewing, biting, grinding and crunching. This outer layer also helps to prevent cavities; as the enamel decays (when we do things like use a Magic Eraser on our teeth), the teeth become far more susceptible to developing cavities.

When the main ingredient in Magic Erasers, melamine foam, is mixed with water, it becomes a highly abrasive material similar to sandpaper.

Using melamine sponge and Magic Erasers on your teeth is a direct route to enamel decay. Once tooth enamel is destroyed, it can’t be brought back! While there are ways to strengthen the minerals that remain, the protective outer layer of enamel cannot be rebuilt.

Magic Eraser and Braces/Invisalign®

It goes without saying that nobody should use a Magic Eraser on their teeth, regardless of if you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. It would be pretty difficult to use a Magic Eraser with braces, and you’ll end up with bits of foam in every crevice before you can reach your teeth. But we discourage you from even trying!

If you’re wearing braces, we advise that you wait about a month after your braces are removed to whiten your teeth.

If you’re undergoing treatment with Invisalign, the health risks of melamine foam are no different. There are much safer ways to whiten your teeth, and clear aligner treatment allows you to whiten your teeth during treatment if you wish.

You need strong teeth to support your orthodontic treatment and experience beautiful results from your braces or Invisalign.

All in all, just be patient and don’t opt for the Magic Eraser on your precious smile. You only get one smile, so it’s important that you take care of it!

On the top of the “what not to use Magic Eraser on” list is your body. Using a Magic Eraser on your teeth will certainly do you more harm than good.

Have questions about caring for your teeth?

Follow us on Tiktok for braces and Invisalign care tricks and tips verified by our certified orthodontists!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! We love to hear from you. We’re here to guide you through your treatment process, from your very first visit, to your last appointment.

If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in Jupiter, we’d love to meet you! We have two highly experienced orthodontists, Dr. King and Dr. Welch. Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today.