Invisalign During Pregnancy – Is It Safe? 

Many women who want a discrete dental treatment choose Invisalign in East Kelowna, BC. A lot of these women also want to know if it is safe to do while they are pregnant. 

The good news is that most studies and dentists agree that Invisalign is probably safe for women who are pregnant. But there are some important things you should know before you start or keep up treatment while you are pregnant. 

How safe are aligners themselves? 

With Invisalign, you wear clear, detachable braces made of a special kind of medical-grade plastic. This plastic does not have any Bisphenol A in it, which is a chemical that has been linked to some health problems. In this case, the aligners are thought to be safe for both mom and baby. 

Common challenges during pregnancy. 

It is likely safe to use Invisalign, but being pregnant can make treatment more difficult. Here is what you can expect:

1. Changes in hormones. 

Some hormones during pregnancy, like relaxin and progesterone, can make your teeth looser and more sensitive to movement. This could make getting used to new braces a little uncomfortable. It may also be hard to wear the aligners for long amounts of time if these hormones make your gums swell and become worse for wear.

2. Morning sickness. 

Because morning sickness makes you feel sick and throw up a lot, it can be hard to wear your aligners for the suggested 22 hours a day. You might have to take them off more often to clean. This can also make it hard to eat well, which is important for keeping your teeth healthy while you are getting Invisalign.

3. Discomfort. 

When you are pregnant, the initial pain you feel when you first get new aligners might feel worse. Because of all the changes in your body, your teeth may feel painful more often.

4. Changes to your diet. 

During pregnancy, it can be hard to stick to a healthy diet, which is important for your oral health while you are getting Invisalign. You and your baby should both eat well, and it can help keep gum disease and other mouth health problems at bay. 

Important things you should consider before starting treatment. 

Here are some important things to talk to your dentist or orthodontist about if you want to get Invisalign and are pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon:

1. When to get X-rays and scans. 

Before starting Invisalign treatment, patients often need to get X-rays and digital scans. High amounts of radiation from X-rays during the first pregnancy (weeks 2 to 8) could hurt the growing baby, so it is best to do these treatments before getting pregnant. Your dentist can tell you if it is safe to get X-rays or scans while you are pregnant.

2. Timeline for treatment. 

Hormones that are released during pregnancy can change how your teeth react to Invisalign. This might make your treatment take longer generally. Talk to your doctor about what you can reasonably expect. Also, you should be ready for the chance that you may need to stop or pause your treatment if you have any problems while you are pregnant.

3. Take care of your oral hygiene. 

To avoid gum disease, it is even more important to take care of your teeth and gums while you are pregnant. If you have Invisalign, you have to take out the aligners to brush and floss, so make sure you stick to a regular cleaning schedule. You should also get checkups and cleanings at the dentist every six months. 

Speak to your dentist. 

When you are pregnant, Invisalign may be a safe and effective way to fix your teeth. But there are some problems to think about. 

It is very important to talk to your dentist or orthodontist about your plans before you start or continue treatment. They can help you figure out if Invisalign is right for you and deal with any problems that may come up while you are pregnant.