Getting ready for cold and flu season generally means making sure you’ve had the necessary shots and have plenty of tissues and hand sanitizer on standby. These basic steps go a long way towards helping you avoid germs and viruses as much as possible. But if you’re currently in the middle of using Invisalign in Boston, you’ll have a few unique concerns to deal with. Removing your trays for meals and regular cleanings can create additional risks that you need to be aware of. The following 3 tips can help you protect yourself from the cold and flu while also taking care of your Invisalign aligner.

1. Be Extra Careful When Washing Your Hands

Germs and viruses can easily build up on your hands. Thus, if you don’t wash them thoroughly before putting them in your mouth, you could be putting yourself at risk for various illnesses. This is especially true when handling your Invisalign aligners, which could easily end up trapping pathogens into your mouth if you’re not careful. If you can, you should try to wash your hands before removing your aligners or putting them back in your mouth.

2. Keep Your Personal Space Clean

Your desk might feel like a safe, clean spot, but in fact it could easily contain up to 400 times more germs than the average toilet seat. During cold and flu season, there are more germs and viruses than usual in the air, so it’s more important than ever to be aware of your surroundings – especially if you have aligners to worry about. Make sure your desk and other personal spaces stay as clean as possible throughout the season. Ideally, you should always place your aligners in a protective case whenever you take them out, but if you must place them on your desk, it should only be after taking the proper precautions.

3. Drink Plenty of Water

Water is absolutely indispensable when it comes to your health. You may already be drinking more water than usual since it’s the only thing you can put in your mouth while you’re wearing Invisalign. These additional fluids become even more important if you’re already sick. With your nose stuffed up, you’ll breathe through your mouth, drying it up and lowering saliva levels. As a result, harmful bacteria will start to build up, putting you at risk for bad breath and cavities. Therefore, it’s important to have plenty of water on hand to keep your mouth and aligners sufficiently moist and clean throughout the day.

These are just a few ways you can take care of your aligners – and yourself – during cold and flu season. Talk to your cosmetic dentist in Boston for additional tips on keeping your oral and physical health safe during this risky time.

About the Practice

Our team of dental specialists at Kraft & Schrott Dental Associates combine their decades of collective experience across the various fields of dentistry in order to provide comprehensive care to all of our patients. Our goal is to create a smile that has a positive impact on every aspect of your life; in order to achieve that goal, we’ll do everything in our power to make sure Invisalign and other cosmetic treatments go on without a hitch. If you’re concerned about using Invisalign during cold and flu season, get in touch with us through our website or by calling (617) 227-4924.