Experiencing Invisalign Dry Mouth While Wearing Your Mask?

If you have ever felt unsure about your smile, you are not alone. Thousands of people struggle with smile insecurities. Whether they have crooked teeth or an overbite, their smile imperfections can sometimes make them feel anxious and lacking in confidence. That’s why so many adults have turned to Invisalign® to achieve the smile they always wanted.

While Invisalign trays are usually more comfortable to wear and maintain than traditional braces, they can also cause mild discomfort. Soreness and dry mouth are common issues associated with Invisalign. 

As a practicing orthodontist and former Invisalign patient, I understand these struggles. That’s why we’re offering a full guide to treating Invisalign dry mouth and other dental issues. 

What is Dry Mouth?

The term dry mouth pretty much explains itself

Dry mouth is a common issue among Invisalign patients. It can be irritating and uncomfortable, but it is treatable. 

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, occurs when your mouth does not have enough saliva. Stress, medication, and certain foods can cause someone to develop dry mouth. 

Wearing Invisalign can also dry out your mouth. When you start wearing Invisalign aligners or you switch to a new set, the new trays might cause irritation or swelling in your mouth. In response, your body reduces its saliva production. Luckily, there are a number of simple treatment options you can try to reduce discomfort from dry mouth. 

Any Tips for Fighting Dry Mouth?

5 tips for helping you prevent and manage Invisalign dry mouth

When left untreated, dry mouth can lead to serious dental problems like tooth decay and infection. 

Dealing with dry mouth is never fun. At the very least, it’s a minor nuisance. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer through it until it magically goes away. Check out these easy tips for treating Invisalign dry mouth below. 

1. Chew on some dental Movemints™

Chewing on sugar-free mints can help eliminate dry mouth. While you can chew or suck on regular mints, Movemints is a much more effective option.

Movemints are sugar-free mints designed for clear aligner wearers. If you look closely, you’ll notice the patented grooves on the mints. These grooves make it easy for Invisalign wearers to slip the mints between their aligners and start chewing. Built with a healthy dose of xylitol, Movemints also help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. 

2. Remember to refresh yourself with plenty of water

While it might sound obvious, you should make sure you are drinking plenty of water every day. Staying hydrated is one of the best ways you can keep dry mouth at bay. The general rule is that you should drink about 15 cups of water a day if you are a man and about 11 cups of water if you are a woman. When we say water, we mean plain drinking water. Not carbonated water like Perrier or La Croix. 

3. Try some moisturizing spray

If drinking more water isn’t doing any help, try spritzing your mouth with some moisturizing spray. When searching for a spray, make sure you pick one that contains xylitol, like Soluria SmileSaver Spray which is included in our Ultimate Clear Aligner Starter Kit. This ingredient offers great dental benefits and can help prevent serious dental issues. SmileSaver is great for cleansing your aligners on the go, and the added xylitol helps with the dry mouth too!

4. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco

Alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco are all known to dry out your mouth. You don’t have to cut these ingredients out of your life completely. But if you’re going through Invisalign treatment and have trouble with dry mouth, you should at least take a quick break from them. 

5. Sleep with a humidifier

If your dry mouth occurs at night or in the morning, sleeping with a humidifier might help. The increased moisture in the air can help support the production of saliva. Humidifiers are also great for helping your skin stay moisturized and keeping the air clean.  

FAQ on Invisalign Dry Mouth and Other Oral Problems

Movemints answers all of your questions on dry mouth and other common dental issues

The journey to your dream smile is long. But once you see your new smile, it will all be worth it. 

Like most Invisalign wearers, you probably have a number of questions about taking care of your aligners, treating any dental problems associated with them, or even the impact that COVID-19 might have on your treatment. Below, you’ll find answers to all of these questions and more. 

Can I chew on Movemints while wearing a mask?

You can certainly chew on one while wearing a mask. This is a great way to deal with “mask breath” that can be quite unpleasant. Since Movemints are sugar-free and sweetened with xylitol, you can eat as many as you’d like without the guilt of other gums and candies (which you shouldn’t eat while wearing your aligners anyway). 

Will COVID-19 affect my Invisalign treatment?

Due to the pandemic, your orthodontist might be limiting the number of patients they see at a time. Tray delivery might also take a little longer. If you need any assistance, don’t hesitate to call your orthodontist to see how they are handling operations during the pandemic. 

My dry mouth isn’t getting better! What should I do? 

If none of the above treatments fixes your dry mouth, you should contact your orthodontist, dentist or provider for assistance.