Thinking about getting Invisalign? Studies prove they’re more efficient than traditional braces and their clear appearance makes them seem invisible to other people.
Wearing these can help you correct your teeth without the hassle of having braces on. Invisalign is usable for treating underbites, and overbites.
That said, Invisalign can be expensive and you’ll want to get the most of out them. To help you out, here are some Invisalign tips to make your experience worthwhile.
1. Make Sure You Wear Them At Least 22 Hours A Day
For the Invisalign retainer to be effective, you need to wear it for 22 hours in a day. The only time that you remove it is when you are brushing your teeth. This ensures fast and positive results from the treatment.
Upon receiving the treatment, wear it as much as possible for the first 48 hours. A good suggestion is to also wear your Invisalign aligners during sleep, as it ensures the healing process works and helps you adjust to the retainers.
You may encounter excessive saliva build up within your mouth during adjustment. This side-effect should subside after three days, but could last up to two weeks. For the time being, you can sleep on your back or prop your head a bit until saliva decreases. Also, breathe through your nose as this could help with reducing the saliva build up.
2. Observe Regular Cleaning, Sterilization, and Organisation
Remember to brush and floss after every meal. This is not only a habit to practice proper oral hygiene but this also prevents food particles from getting stuck. A travel-sized toothbrush with a small toothpaste tube and floss can prove handy as you can bring them anywhere you go.
When you’re not capable of brushing, like when traveling on a moment’s whim, you can rinse with mouthwash or a cup of warm water until you get the chance to brush your teeth.
A useful tip that you can note with your Invisalign treatment is to use a whitening toothpaste. The reason for this is that the aligner holds the fluoride and the whitening substance against the teeth.
When it comes to cleaning your Invisalign retainers, soak them in warm water. Using hot water is ill-advised due to how it might distort the retainers. After rinsing them, gently brush each surface with a soft-bristled brush. Once cleaned, rinse them again and place them back in your mouth.
Your Invisalign retainers are also prone to tartar build-up. This white film is possible to remove by soaking the retainers in a special cleansing solution. However, do not use a mouthwash due to the tint causing stains on the retainers.
Also, whenever you are not using the retainers due to having a new one in place, store them in a separately-labeled plastic bag. This helps keep you organised, as you may encounter a time in your treatment that you will end up using those trays again.
3. Limit on Drinking Certain Beverages
When it comes to food, there is no restriction on them. Only that you take your retainers out while eating (which would be a good time to soak them in warm water), and then brush and floss your teeth when done. After that, you may put back your retainers.
When it comes to Invisalign tips for eating, avoid hot beverages like coffee or tea. The reason behind this is that they may cause both warping and staining on the trays.
When it comes to cold beverages, it’s suggested to instead go for water or at the very least use clear sparkling water devoid of sugar. Light coloured beverages may cause stains on the otherwise clear Invisalign trays.
When it comes to alcohol, limit the intake of such while using Invisalign as the high sugar content in alcohol can become a breeding ground for bacteria that can destroy the tooth enamel. Remember to drink in a moderate amount, and clean both teeth and aligners thoroughly to ensure that the sugar is not trapped between them.
While chewing gum is a different matter and how it is useful for cleaning your teeth of food debris, most gums have a lot of sugar in them. Consult with your dentist about this matter before going for it. Also, use sugar-free gum and chew them without the retainers on.
4. Keep Track Using Selfies
One of the best reasons to get Invisalign instead of braces is that they seem invisible to other people. This lets you take more confident pictures when with friends and family.
However, you should also take a few selfies to monitor progress too. This way, you can see the results by comparing them week after week. You may go with a weekly selfie or a daily selfie.
By taking selfies on a regular basis, you can see how much change has taken place. While the changes are hard to notice, keep at it. You may start noticing the results at around tray 18. You will notice the changes take place in your back teeth first, which may mean you will need to smile wide for the photos to help you keep track.
The treatment may take longer than expected. So if you feel like that it’s taking long, consult your dentist.
5. Follow the Dentist’s Orders
With all the Invisalign tips that we will share, this holds a high priority.
Some people don’t like coming back to the dentist, others are afraid of visiting a dentist in the first place. However, it is crucial to keep coming back to let them check on your progress. Remember to follow the recommendations and orders given by your dentist while taking this treatment and follow them down to the letter.
Among the recommendations that they would include are the times when you should be switching to new Invisalign retainers, which foods to intake, and how long the treatment takes. In case you have questions regarding the treatment and what else it entails, do not hesitate to consult your dentist.
Smile Your Best Using These Invisalign Tips Today!
At the end of the day, Invisalign works perfectly as long as you use them. With proper care and these Invisalign tips, you can ensure these retainers help you in correcting and aligning your teeth to the best of their capabilities.
Interested with Invisalign and other dental solutions, feel free to contact us today.
Leave a Reply