Are Invisalign Braces Giving Your Teenager Bad Breath?

If your teenager has recently started to wear Invisalign braces and they have noticed that their breath doesn't smell so great, then you may be wondering if the braces are at fault. Do Invisalign braces affect the breath and, if so, what can you do about it?

How Invisalign Braces Affect Breath

Wearing Invisalign braces doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have to put up with bad breath during your treatment. However, the braces can sometimes affect your mouth enough to make your breath smell.

For example, your teenager may simply be finding that their braces are drying out their mouth. Having plastic trays covering the teeth can affect saliva flow. For example, saliva normally washes around the teeth to deal with bacteria. Left in place, this bacteria may start to smell.

Sometimes, your teenager may have bad breath because they aren't doing a perfect job of keeping their braces and teeth clean during the day. They are supposed to take the trays out to eat, after which they should brush their teeth and clean their trays before they go back in.

If your child is skimping on toothbrushing or tray cleaning, then food particles may end up stuck in their braces. If this happens regularly, then their breath may not smell so good.

How to Stop Bad Breath When Wearing Invisalign

If your teenager does have a dry mouth, then encourage them to drink more water during the day. They don't need to take their trays out to drink water, so even regular sips here and there may lubricate the mouth more.

You may find that it helps to get your teenager to chew some sugar-free gum after meals and before they put their braces back in. Gum chewing will release more saliva in the mouth; sugar-free gums that contain xylitol may also help keep bacteria off the teeth.

If your child's bad breath might be down to oral hygiene, then tell them to up their game. They need to brush their teeth after every meal and snack; their brace trays should be cleaned to their dentist's instructions rather than just giving the trays a quick dip under a running tap.

If your teenager's bad breath persists, then mention it to your dentist. They can check to see if the problem is caused by their braces or whether your child has a dental issue that needs fixing. Bad breath is also sometimes caused by issues like tooth decay and gum disease, so a checkup may be a good idea.