You may think of braces when considering methods to straighten your teeth, but clear tooth aligners are a popular alternative. Metal braces can be uncomfortable and are more visible. Clear aligners tend to be more comfortable, are extremely discreet, and are effective solutions. But can they negatively impact your gums? Not with proper setup and use.
An Overview of Aligners
Dental aligners are somewhat like retainers. Orthodontists fit these devices to your specific dental structure, where they fit snugly over your teeth. Apart from requiring a few new habits, such as a daily cleaning for the aligner, these implements present very minimal impact on your everyday life. The clear, plastic trays can be nearly impossible for casual viewing to discern. Gentle pressure will offer slight repositioning of the tight fit for your maximum comfort.
How Aligners Help Your Dental Health
Some dental problems are beyond the ability of aligners to help. These include large gaps between teeth, the particular shape of teeth that are pegged or short, and especially rotated teeth. What aligners can do is slowly correct lesser cases of crookedness and poor alignment. Clear aligners apply even pressure uniformly to all your teeth simultaneously. This gradually forces your teeth, bone, and ligaments to break down the bone that lies in the moving tooth’s path. More bone then builds up deposited behind the tooth to support it.
The Importance of Maintaining Healthy Gums
Your healthy mouth is based on the foundation of healthy gums. When you have healthy gums, these tissues do their best job of supporting your teeth. They also indicate an overall long-term oral health with a positive outlook. Healthy gums reduce your risks of cavities, tooth loss, and oral infections. While it is never too late to correct your habits and achieve healthy gums, you benefit from avoiding gum disease in the first place.
The Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease is a chronic condition. It is persistent and progresses through a series of stages. Starting as a humble bacterial infection, gum disease inflames your gum tissues and weakens those bones that support your teeth. Bacteria and built-up plaque become tartar, a harder substance that increases your gums’ irritation. Weakened gums and bone tissue result.
With the earliest and most mild state of gum disease, gingivitis, your bones do not yet suffer. You can reverse gingivitis with regular flossing and brushing. Periodontitis, however, contains symptoms like excessive bleeding and swelling of the gums and the gumline seeping pus.
How to Identify Healthy Gums
Check the color of your gums. Depending on the tone of your skin, they should be generally pink. Discoloration is an indicator of trouble. So are gums that bleed when you floss, or if flossing causes discomfort or even pain. Eating cold or hot foods may be a painful prospect if your gums are suffering neglect and infection.
Conditions Linked to Gum Disease
Researchers report several chronic conditions linked to periodontitis. Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease number among those conditions. Severe gum disease can even impact pregnancies, with a link to preterm birth as well as to newborns with a low birth weight.
Aligners and Gum Issues
Aligners hug the teeth and gums closely. Due to this, you may experience concerns about how the presence of the plastic trays impacts your gums. Several potential problems include irritation, gum recession, and inflammation.
Irritation to the Gums
Aligners that orthodontists have not fit properly to your mouth can result in movement, leading to small areas of friction. Friction leads to discomfort and irritation. Bleeding may be the result. The edges of the trays are rigid and may also scratch or rub against your mouth’s surfaces. This sometimes leads to discomfort.
Aligners and Gum Recession
Investigation into a potential link between aligners and gum recession shows that, with proper use, recession does not occur. Factors that do lead to gum recession include forceful tooth brushing, buildup of tartar and plaque, and improper treatment planning.
Gum Inflammation and Aligners
You may experience gum inflammation if you use aligners. Inflammation occurs because of excessive pressure, an improper fit that allows for movement, and rubbing from too tight a fit. Trapped particles of food, and the bacteria building on them, may also contribute to inflammation.
Contributing Factors to Gum Problems with Aligner Use
As explained, generally the problems stemming from aligner use have extenuating circumstances. Many potential problems arise from improper fit of the trays. Others result from failing to properly maintain oral hygiene.
Improper Aligner Fit
When the aligner does not fit, whether it is too tight, too loose, or simply isn’t correctly fitted, trouble begins. Pressure and motion both lead to irritation, inflammation, and eventually, bleeding. A well-fitting aligner possesses just enough movement for you to tweak its position for optimal comfort, no more.
Poor Oral Hygiene Maintenance
The buildup of plaque or tartar, or both, is an impediment to aligner wear. Aligners can also exacerbate the problems associated with these conditions. You may have a greater risk of tooth decay when improperly maintaining oral hygiene and wearing clear aligners.
Prevention and Management of Aligner-Related Gum Issues
Work with your dental health team to achieve the best possible fit and results from your aligner treatment regimen. You can break this big prospect down into easily managed steps. Basically, you need generally good oral hygiene with the addition of tray maintenance.
Brushing to Prevent Gum Pain with Aligners
Brushing twice a day is essential for everybody who wants healthy teeth, but if you wear aligners, you should also brush when you remove them. Food particles stuck between teeth can quickly turn into problems that could be avoided with a length of dental floss. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Dentists recommend toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Make Dental Health a Priority
Even if you do not easily build habits and routines, your dental health is vital to your overall health. You should treat it as a top priority in the steps you take to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A treatment course with aligners requires an extra step or two, but does not run for a lifetime.
Address Any Discomfort At Once
As with any issue with your gums, you should pay prompt attention to pain or discomfort when wearing aligners. Immediate correction leads to the best overall results. You have better long-term prospects with your aligner treatment when you see to discomfort as soon as possible.
Attend Regular Checkups with Your Dental Professionals
Your dentist and orthodontist will want to keep track of your journey with clear aligners. To best help you, your dental professionals can make small adjustments that lead to better outcomes.
Some patients have concerns about gum health and aligners, but proper care and hygiene ensure successful treatments and happy gums. Maintaining healthy gums leads to better overall health throughout your body, reducing your risk for many conditions. Exercise proper oral hygiene to ensure the best outcome to your aligner treatment and your general wellbeing. Contact Elara Orthodontics at (713) 999-1099 today or find us at our website.