To keep their patients, staff, and community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, most dental practices are postponing all non-emergency appointments for the time being. If you’re undergoing Invisalign in Ellington, you may be concerned about how this will impact your treatment. Thankfully, as long as you care for and use your aligners properly, there should be minimal to no delay in your progress. Here are seven important tips to help you stay on track for a straighter smile while in quarantine.

1.) Don’t Forget to Keep Wearing Your Aligners

While your daily life may look very different than it did before, don’t slack off on how often you wear your aligners. If you don’t wear them for at least 20-22 hours every day, your teeth will begin to shift out of place.

2.) Be Careful with Your Aligners

Now more than ever, you should take every precaution to avoid breaking your aligners. Remember to:

• Store them somewhere safe and protected when you’re not wearing them.
• Don’t eat or drink anything other than water while you wear them.
• Remove and replace them carefully, not haphazardly.

3.) Clean Your Aligners Every Morning & Evening

Bacteria and plaque build up on your aligners while you wear them, especially overnight. Cleaning them routinely prevents bad breath, dirty looking aligners, and an excess of germs in your mouth.

4.) Break Bad Habits, Not Your Aligners

Take some time to identify and break bad habits that can damage your aligners, like:

• Chewing on hard objects like ice, pen caps, or your fingernails.
• Playing with or moving your aligners with your tongue.
• Wearing your aligners while playing sports.

5.) Brush & Floss Your Teeth Thoroughly

Don’t forget to take care of your teeth as well—the last thing you need in quarantine is a cavity! Make sure you’re brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day and flossing daily.

6.) Wash Your Hands Regularly

To protect yourself from getting sick, you should be washing your hands much more than usual, including:

• After leaving a public place like a grocery store, pharmacy, or gas station.
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
• Before putting in or removing your aligners.

7.) Call Your Dentist If You Need Help

If something doesn’t feel right or your aligners become damaged, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist. They’ll either give you instructions over the phone or invite you to come into their highly sanitized office for repairs or adjustments.

Don’t let COVID-19 keep you from getting the straighter smile you’ve been working towards. Use these helpful tips to stay on track and keep your smile healthy throughout quarantine!

About the Practice

For almost 40 years now, Zahner Dental has been proud to maintain the happy, healthy smiles of Ellington, CT. In these unusual times, Drs. Jonathan and Shawn Zahner are committed to keeping their practice as clean, safe, and germ-free as possible to safeguard their patient’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are undergoing Invisalign treatment, they encourage you to contact them if you have any questions or concerns about staying on track for a straighter smile. They can be reached via their website or at (860) 870-9031.