{"id":1777,"date":"2025-05-15T05:56:47","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T05:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/?p=1777"},"modified":"2025-06-25T14:48:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T14:48:04","slug":"can-you-get-cavities-during-invisalign-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/can-you-get-cavities-during-invisalign-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Get Cavities During Invisalign Treatment?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Given what you’ve heard, you may think Invisalign protects your teeth as it works. Many people see its plastic as a “smile shield” – something that defends against oral health risks. That said, you can actually get cavities during Invisalign treatment if you’re careless. Unless you actively look after your grin, the aligners<\/a> won’t prevent decay. To prove these facts, here’s a primer on Invisalign and how to avoid tooth decay during treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Context: How Invisalign Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, it\u2019s no surprise that some see Invisalign as the ultimate smile defense. The treatment differs quite a bit from \u201ctraditional\u201d orthodontic options like metal braces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike older methods, Invisalign straightens your smile with clear plastic trays. These removable \u201caligners\u201d shift your teeth as they\u2019re worn over both arches. By wearing sets of them for an extended period, they\u2019ll slowly bring your grin (and your bite) into proper alignment.  You just need to switch to new trays every few weeks or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most patients can complete Invisalign in 12-18 months, assuming they stick to the treatment\u2019s guidelines. They\u2019ll then have a smile that\u2019s perfectly aligned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Get Cavities During Treatment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the points above, Invisalign doesn\u2019t make tooth decay impossible. A patient could get cavities even as they receive treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue is that Invisalign trays are removable. Since you can take them off for meals and oral care, your aligners may \u201ctrap\u201d bacteria and other debris on your teeth. That means they could allow \u2013 or even put you at greater risk of \u2013 cavities and similar decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the record, these facts don\u2019t imply that \u201cInvisalign cavities\u201d are inevitable. They just show that such decay is a definite possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prevent Cavities During Invisalign<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s any good news, it\u2019s that you can prevent cavities during Invisalign. You simply need to use the following tricks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n