Over 200 million Americans would benefit from some form of orthodontic treatment.
If you’re one of the lucky few who opted for Invisalign, you probably know the advantages of invisible aligners over metal braces. What you may not know, however, is that you can prolong your treatment time or worsen your oral health if you fail to use Invisalign properly.
Here’s the good news: It’s possible to avoid these issues by learning a few Invisalign tips and tricks.
Let’s look at what steps you can take to achieve ideal results with clear aligner treatment!
1. Avoid Taking Them out Too Often
The Invisalign Bondi Junction experts at Fine Orthodontics recommend wearing aligners for at least 22 hours per day.
Keep a stopwatch app open on your smartphone to make sure you don’t go over your two-hour daily limit. Hit the start button when you take your aligners off, and tap stop when you pop them back in.
2. Set Aside More Time for Brushing and Flossing
Saliva has antimicrobial functions and contains minerals that strengthen enamel. Additionally, it helps keep food debris from sticking to the surface of teeth.
But invisible aligners isolate your pearly whites from saliva. As a result, brushing and flossing after consuming a meal or beverage becomes even more important when you wear Invisalign.
What’s the solution? Bring a travel toothbrush and flosser with you everywhere you go.
3. Keep Your Aligners Squeaky Clean
Having dirty aligners is just as bad for your mouth as having unwashed teeth. Forgetting to clean your trays not only leads to stains and unpleasant smells, but it can also result in cavities.
While Invisalign sells their own cleaners, you can go with anti-bac soap and warm water.
Remove and soak your aligners during meals. Don’t use an electric toothbrush and toothpaste to scrub them because they can cause scuffs.
Also, remember that when you have Invisalign in your mouth, you should only drink water.
4. Don’t Fret About Your Lisp
One study found that less than half of Invisalign wearers report having no speech impairment during treatment. So your chances of experiencing a lisp while sporting invisible braces are high.
Rest assured that your lisp will get milder as your tongue adapts to the aligners. You can make your lisp less noticeable by slowing down your speech and over-enunciating.
Consider reading books or articles out loud and recording yourself. This will help you pinpoint the letters that give you the most trouble.
5. Gnaw on Your Chewies
When you first get Invisalign or when you receive a new set of trays, you may notice a bit of discomfort or soreness. It’s important to keep in mind that the quicker your teeth adjust to your aligners, the quicker the pressure and tenderness will go away.
Chewies help get aligners into a comfortable position in your mouth. For best results, chomp down on your chewies about 15-20 minute each day.
Wrapping up on Invisalign Tips and Tricks
Sure, clear aligners may force you to cut back on your snacking and coffee drinking. But look at it this way: You could end up losing some pesky belly fat in the process.
Now that you’re clued in on a few Invisalign tips, want to find out how you can save big on clear aligner treatment? If so, be sure to check out our article on getting the best price on Invisalign!