For many people looking for straighter teeth and a more attractive smile, Invisalign® is a more desirable option than traditional wire braces. Invisalign’s clear, virtually invisible design is one of the biggest draws for many people, but the clear aligners offer other benefits, too.
Our dentists at The Glen Dental want our Invisalign patients to experience all those benefits. In this post, our team offers eight tips to help you maximize your experience during your Invisalign treatment.
1. Use as directed
You’ll find those three words on plenty of labels, but they’re true for Invisalign, too. For optimal effectiveness, you’ll need to wear your aligners for 22 hours every day — even while you sleep. You’ll take them out only to eat and to brush and floss your teeth. Cutting back on wear time can alter your course of treatment, which means your treatment can last longer than you expected.
2. Keep them protected
When your aligners are out of your mouth, you should always keep them in their case. Don’t be tempted to stuff them in a pocket, purse, or backpack where they can easily become broken or bent. And don’t leave them in direct sunlight or anywhere that’s hot since extra heat could cause the plastic to warp. Carry your case with you to work or school, or invest in a second case to keep at home.
3. Take them out for eating and drinking (except water)
Removing Invisalign for meals and snacks is a given — yet, many people are tempted to keep them in for just a quick bite.
But, here’s the problem: Invisalign aligners aren’t designed to withstand the forces of biting and chewing, which means eating with them in place can cause them to break or bend. Plus, any color — natural or added — in foods or drinks can stain them, so they won’t be invisible anymore.
4. Change them on schedule
During treatment, you’ll go through many sets of aligners. Each set is shaped a little differently than the previous set in the series. When worn in sequence, those differences are what keep your teeth moving into alignment.
Each set of aligners is usually worn for about two weeks, and then they’re swapped for the next set in the series. If you don’t change them on schedule, your treatment time could be prolonged.
5. Don’t toss the old aligners
When you swap out your current set of aligners for the next set, hold on to the ones you’re swapping out. If your new set gets damaged, you can wear your old set while your replacement set is made.
6. Call with any problems
If you damage an aligner — if it breaks, gets bent or warped, or it’s damaged in any other way — call our office right away, so we can make a replacement and keep your treatment on track.
7. Clean them properly
You can clean your aligners with a soft toothbrush and non-whitening toothpaste or even with mild soap and water. (Avoid soaps with colors or scents and rinse well.) Invisalign also offers a special kit designed to keep your aligners clean and fresh.
8. Don’t skip appointments
Invisalign doesn’t require as many visits as traditional braces, but keep each one is still important. Your visits allow our team to check up on your treatment and ensure it’s on track. Skipping just one visit could mean a longer treatment time.
Orthodontic treatment is one of the best things you can do for your smile and oral health. To learn more about Invisalign treatment at our San Jose, California, office, call 669-205-1303 or book an appointment online with the team at The Glen Dental today.