Can you chew gum with invisalign?
If you have come this far, you will know perfectly well that Invisalign is a type of orthodontics that requires a strong commitment on the part of the patient.
The first commitment has to do with daily hygiene, both of our mouth and of the splints. If proper hygiene is not maintained, our orthodontics will become visible, as the covers will lose the transparency that characterizes them so much.
The second commitment lies in constancy and perseverance. The patient can only remove the splints to eat, and must wear them at least 22 hours a day.
The third commitment, but no less important, is related to small changes that have to do with the patient’s lifestyle.
For example, while wearing the aligners it is preferable not to smoke or chew gum.
Can you chew gum with invisalign?
One of the main advantages of Invisalign over other orthodontics is that it is the only one that can be removed at mealtimes.
This makes it much easier to eat and also helps us to avoid snacking between meals.
Despite this, there are still many patients who ask what they can and cannot eat during orthodontics.
The truth is that, with Invisalign, you can eat anything once the clear splints are removed.
On that basis, it is easy to deduce that you should never eat with the splints on, regardless of whether it is a heavy or light meal.
Therefore, even if chewing gum is used occasionally (usually between meals or after a meal), the aligners should always be removed so that it can be chewed.
You will be happy to know that chewing gum is one of the forbidden foods for patients who have opted for bracket orthodontics.
Under no circumstances can these people eat chewing gum, as it will stick to the brackets.
What happens if I do not remove the aligners?
Although it is logical that, in order to chew gum, the covers must be removed, there are still many patients who, due to carelessness or ignorance, eat gum with their aligners in place.
In this case, there are two main problems:
- Chewing gum can get stuck in the Invisalign sleeves. And, if this happens, you will not be able to remove it completely from the aligners.
- The second problem is related to esthetics. Eating chewing gum with the sleeves on can make them unnecessarily dirty and stained.
Eating gum with Invisalign in place
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CHEWING GUM WITH SUGAR
Other than that, are there any other negative effects?
Even if you think that chewing gum can save you from some trouble, its ingestion can cause other problems.
The first one has to do with the progress of orthodontics.
As you know, for the treatment to be effective, we must wear the aligners 22 hours a day.
This leaves 2 hours a day to eat all the necessary meals.
Therefore, the consumption of chewing gum should always be a one-time occurrence.
All the time you are eating chewing gum is wasted time in which the aligners cannot perform the micro-movements necessary to obtain the desired results.
The second problem has to do with the high sugar content of chewing gum. These are conducive to the development of dental caries.
Caries affects 33% of children under 5 years of age and 95% of young adults.
Tooth decay is one of the most common conditions in the population. However, depending on the degree of tissue involvement, you will have to undergo different treatments.
These treatments can range from a dental filling to a reconstruction or inlay.
If you are not willing to give up chewing gum, we recommend that you always consume it without sugar.
Xylitol chewing gum: is it the solution?
In addition, there is another option for those patients who decide to continue eating chewing gum.
In this regard, experts recommend chewing gum with xylitol, which reduces the likelihood of caries.
Xylitol is a polyol extracted from certain vegetables and plants.
In other words, it is a sweetener with a taste very similar to sugar but with fewer negative effects on oral health.
Take it in moderation
Just because xylitol chewing gum is not so harmful to oral health does not mean that it has positive effects on it. Therefore, you should always consume it in moderation.
Although xylitol chewing gum may be safer for your oral health, it does not free you from having to remove your Invisalign aligners in order to use it.
If you have any questions about chewing gum during your Invisalign treatment, don’t hesitate to consult our orthodontists.
