Will My Clear Aligners Cause Dry Mouth?

Table of Contents

1. What Are Clear Aligners?
2. How Clear Aligners Work
3. Who Can Use Clear Aligners?
4. Why Can Clear Aligners Cause Dry Mouth?
5. Saliva Flow is Reduced
6. Mouth Breathing
7. Adjusting to Something New
8. How to Prevent Dry Mouth While Wearing Clear Aligners
9. Stay Hydrated
10. Use Saliva Boosters
11. Avoid Mouth Breathing
12. Cleaning Your Aligners to Avoid Dry Mouth
13. Rinse Your Aligners Regularly
14. Brush Your Aligners Gently
15. Use Aligner Cleaning Products
16. Final Thoughts
17. FAQs

Clear aligners are a popular teeth straightening method due to them being clear, comfy, and nearly unnoticeable. Many individuals prefer them since they are simple to apply and may be removed when eating or brushing. However, some people are concerned about experiencing dry mouth while wearing transparent aligners. Will wearing clear aligners cause dry mouth? Let's find out by exploring how clear aligners function, why dry mouth occurs, and how to avoid it during your treatment.

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are a modern method of orthodontic treatment. These are created to slide over the teeth so that they fit over the desired position over time. All the aligners are made with clear, smooth material that is gentle on teeth and gums and were designed to be unnoticeable.

How Clear Aligners Work

Individuals prefer to use clear aligners since they exert pressure on the teeth, which is relatively mild. They are individually designed to fit and shape your teeth with slight variations that will help to shift your teeth into the desired positions over time. For each aligner, you use it for about one to two weeks and then switch to the next one in the series. In the course of its implementation, this step-by-step approach gradually aligns your teeth and improves the shape of your mouth.

Clear aligners have one major benefit, which is that they are removable. You put them out when you are eating when you take anything to drink other than water, or when you are brushing your teeth. This means that you do not have to worry about the food being stuck in between braces. However, to get the best outcome, they recommend the use of aligners for at least 20-22 hours per day. If you remove them for too long, the period that is required to have your teeth straightened increases.

Who Can Use Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are most suitable for those individuals who have mild to moderate teeth issues. Minor conditions that they regard as correctible include the presence of small gaps between teeth, slightly crooked teeth, or minor crowding of teeth. They may not be suitable for use in more complicated bite issues, though. Clear aligners treatment is determined by your orthodontist whether it is suitable for you or not. In cases where your teeth require major alignment, then traditional braces may be more effective.

Clear aligners are comfortable for most people. They don’t have metal wires or brackets, so there’s less irritation in your mouth. However, they do take some getting used to. While wearing them, you might notice small changes in how your mouth feels, including a dry sensation.

Why Can Clear Aligners Cause Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition in which the mouth does not generate enough saliva. Saliva is crucial because it helps to keep the mouth healthy by keeping it wet, protects the teeth, and aids in chewing and speaking. Some patients report that when they first use transparent aligners, their mouth feels a little dry. Now let us try to figure out why this is the case.

Saliva Flow is Reduced

When you use clear aligners, they cover your teeth as well as your gum line. This can make it difficult for the saliva that is produced to make its way through your mouth. Usually, saliva covers the teeth and gums to clear them and maintain good health of teeth and gums. The saliva cannot reach the areas with clear aligners. Ultimately, this can make your mouth dry, particularly in the early stages of the consumption of the product.

Saliva helps fight bacteria and wash away food particles. When saliva flow is reduced, your teeth and gums might feel dry or sticky. This is one reason why it’s important to keep your aligners clean and stay hydrated while wearing them.

Mouth Breathing

When wearing clear aligners, some people find themselves breathing more through their mouths. This is most prevalent at night when sleeping. Breathing through your mouth can quickly deplete saliva. Over time, this may cause your mouth to feel dry and painful.

You may completely fail to realize this is happening, but mouth breathing is another factor that can contribute to dry mouth while using aligners. In fact, if you have been a mouthbreather beforehand, then wearing clear aligners will perhaps aggravate the issue.

Adjusting to Something New

When you first start your teeth straightening treatment, your body needs time to adjust. It is important to know that clear aligners are a new thing in your mouth and it only takes a few days or weeks to adjust to it. During this time, the amount of saliva you produce could go down a bit temporarily. This is a normal occurrence, and normally, the pain gets better when you are wearing your aligners for some time.

The majority of individuals discover that any dryness of the mouth resulting in clear aligners improves with time. If it doesn’t, here are ways to control it to ensure that you are comfortable as you undergo your treatment. These solutions will be further discussed next.

How to Prevent Dry Mouth While Wearing Clear Aligners

Do not be concerned if your clear aligners are causing you to have a dry mouth. There are numerous simple techniques to keep your mouth moisturized and comfortable. Let's look at some ways to assist you avoid or manage dry mouth throughout your teeth straightening procedure.

Stay Hydrated

The simplest technique to combat dry mouth is to drink more water. Water keeps your mouth wet and promotes saliva production. Drink lots of water throughout the day, particularly if you're wearing aligners. Carry a water bottle with you so you may drink frequently. Avoid liquids like soda, coffee, and alcohol, which can further dry out your mouth.

If your mouth is extremely dry when you wake up in the morning, it is perhaps best to have water near the bed. One can reduce discomfort by practically sipping water little by little. Drinking water also rids the mouth of bacteria and food particles, hence reducing the chances of your teeth and aligner getting dirty.

Use Saliva Boosters

Sometimes your body requires additional assistance to create saliva. Sugar-free gum and candies can help increase saliva flow. Look for products that contain xylitol, a natural substance that promotes oral health and increases saliva.

You can also try mouth sprays or gels made for dry mouth. These products are designed to add moisture to your mouth and make it feel less dry. They’re easy to use and can provide quick relief, especially when you’re out and about.

Avoid Mouth Breathing

Some of the ways of preventing dry mouth include sleeping with the mouth closed and breathing through the nose and not through the mouth. If you find you are breathing through your mouth during the day, you should make an effort to breathe through your nostrils instead. If you’re a mouthbreather, having a humidifier in your bedroom at night to add moisture into the air might help lessen mouth breathing during sleep.

Some people breathe through their mouths out of habit or because they have nasal congestion. If your nose is frequently blocked, try a saline nasal spray or consult a doctor about how to enhance your breathing.

Cleaning Your Aligners to Avoid Dry Mouth

Keeping your clear aligners clean is important for both your oral health and comfort. Dirty aligners can make dry mouth worse by trapping bacteria or food particles. Clean aligners feel fresher and help keep your mouth healthy during your teeth straightening treatment.

Rinse Your Aligners Regularly

Every time you remove your aligners, give them a short rinse with lukewarm water. This eliminates any saliva, bacteria, or food particles that may be adhered to them. Avoid using hot water since it will stretch the plastic and impair the fit of your aligners.

Rinsing your aligners is extremely necessary before inserting them back in. If they are not clean, they might create poor breath or discomfort, which can exacerbate your dry mouth symptoms.

Brush Your Aligners Gently

Clean your aligner with a soft aligner brush dipped in lukewarm water and toothpaste or clear aligner rinse at least once a day. Do not use toothpaste to clean them because this will scratch the surface and further cloud up your aligners. Clean aligners not only feel and look good, but they also help keep your mouth feeling fresh and hydrated.

Remember to brush your teeth too before putting your aligners back in. Clean teeth and aligners work together to prevent bacteria buildup and keep your treatment on track.

Use Aligner Cleaning Products

There are special cleaning tablets made just for clear aligners. These tablets dissolve in water to form a product that is used for cleaning. This solution might help to clean your aligners if brushing cannot eliminate all the stains and bacteria when soaked in warm water for some time. It is advised to soak your aligners on a daily basis or as prescribed by the orthodontist you are consulting.

Still, clear aligners are less prone to causing irritation as well as dryness of the mouth as compared to traditional dental braces. Also, they give ideal results in the teeth straightening treatment.

Final Thoughts

Dry mouth from clear aligners can be a brief and manageable problem. Staying hydrated, keeping your aligners clean, and eliminating problematic habits like mouth breathing will help you stay comfortable during your teeth straightening treatment. If you continue to have dry mouth, consult your orthodontist. They can create solutions that are specific to your needs. Clear aligners are an excellent choice for many people, and with proper care, they can help you attain the smile you've always desired.

FAQs