Teeth aligners are a top alternative to metal and traditional braces. Its market is growing, and more people are considering teeth aligners to fix their teeth problems.
But even with its popularity and apparent success in the market, questions still come up. Are they safe? Is allergic reaction possible? Many aligners like EZ Smile clear teeth straighteners are safe to use, but this isn’t the same for all teeth aligners.
In this article, we list down the risks you should consider when planning to use teeth aligners.
Cheek Biting
A typical safety problem with teeth aligners is when patients accidentally bite the sides of their cheeks, resulting in cold sores.
This problem happens because most patients take time to get used to the new bite. Their mouths haven’t adjusted yet to the new teeth positions.
However, it’s fortunate that this side effect often improves over time as the treatment progresses.
Speech Problems
Teeth aligners also often cause speech problems to patients, such as lisp when speaking, although the majority of patients don’t experience this.
Luckily, this one’s easy to fix: leave the aligner on for most of the time and practice speaking using it. Your tongue will get used to working around the aligners.
Teeth and Gum Damage
Even though teeth aligners are there to solve some of your problems with your teeth and oral health, they can also cause damage to your teeth and gums.
Aligners can affect the vitality of your teeth and can kill their nerves, necessitating root canal, or extra restorative work. Else, you may have the affected tooth removed.
Damage to Previous Dental Work
Consider the previous dental work done to your teeth. Teeth aligners can also damage tooth fillings or crowns, resulting in more problems instead of solutions.
Bad Breath and Dryness
Teeth aligners also obstruct saliva, which is your body’s natural process for washing your mouth.
You may experience dryness in your mouth and eventually suffer from bad breath. To make it worse, this can come with the development of cavities.
You can easily avoid this by drinking water throughout the day. Of course, you must brush your teeth at least twice a day, and keep your aligners clean, too.
Allergic Reactions
Although it’s quite rare to have an allergic reaction to the aligner trays, they are still a legitimate source of concern.
Some of the mild symptoms include itching sensation in the gums, tongue, the roof of the mouth, and other mouth tissues.
In rarer cases, severe symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Burning sensation
- Swelling of gums and tongue
But remember, there is a higher chance of allergic reactions to traditional metal braces.
How to be Safe with Teeth Aligners
Teeth aligners are popular for good reasons: they are efficient, convenient, and comfortable.
In general, they are also very safe, as long as you do some precautions.
- Always consult your dental professional about the aligner
- Keep the aligner clean and protected
- Check useful reviews about aligners, like this Invisalign review
- Keep your oral hygiene top-notch
Before you decide on any dental treatment, consult your specialist. Confirm whether you need the aligner or not, and thoroughly research each of your options.
