The most important thing you can do during your Invisalign treatment is follow to the plan set out by your dentist. Here, our BC dentists share some tips to ensure you're on the path to straighter teeth during your treatment.
When you choose Invisalign, you’re making a major commitment to an orthodontic treatment. That's why it's important to take your treatment plan seriously and follow the instructions set out by your dentist. If you remain committed to your treatment and follow these simple tips, you will see the benefits of Invisalign.
1. Follow Your Treatment Plan
Before you get started, your dentist will review your treatment plan with you and answer any questions you may have. They will carefully explain how to wear, clean and care for your aligners throughout treatment. It is imperative that you follow these directions.
2. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Be sure to attend your regularly scheduled appointments at your dental office during your treatment period. Regular checkups can help your dentist track your progress and make treatment recommendations along the way.
3. Wear Your Aligners For At Least 20 Hours A Day
Although your Invisalign aligners are removable, our dentists recommend you wear them for 20 to 22 hours a day, and only remove them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
4. Change Your Aligners In The Right Order
Be sure to change your aligners according to your dentists instructions. You won’t make your treatment go faster if you put in different trays earlier than planned.
5. Keep Your Teeth Clean
Good oral hygiene habits, including brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, will help you prevent the build up of plaque and bacteria under your aligners. Ideally, you want to clean your teeth every time you remove your aligners, before putting them back in.
6. Keep Your Aligners Clean
Keep your aligners free of bacteria and plaque. To do this, use a soft toothbrush, soft soap and a gentle brushing motion to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the aligners and then rinse. Any time you take out your aligners, be sure to rinse them under running water before you put them back in your mouth.
7. Monitor Your Diet
Foods and coloured drinks can stain your aligners so be sure to only drink water while you're wearing them. For other foods and drinks, be sure to remove your aligners first and clean them before putting them back in your mouth. It is recommended to eat three meals a day and skip snacks as much as possible to limit the amount of time you need to remove and clean your aligners.
8. Tough Out Any Discomfort
Like traditional braces, there is an adjustment period when wearing Invisalign. Because the whole point of Invisalign is to shift your teeth into a straighter smile, the aligners have to put pressure on the teeth. After a while, your gums and cheeks will toughen up and the aligners will no longer cause discomfort.
9. Practice Pronunciation
When you first wear your Invisalign aligners, you may notice a slight lisp but it is typically only obvious to you, is usually temporary and, if it persists, can be corrected. If Invisalign does seem to cause a slight lisp that doesn’t go away naturally, you can correct it by simply practicing the pronunciation of words with your aligners in.
10. Be Patient
Ultimately, only your dentist can give you an accurate estimate of how long your treatment will take, based on your misalignment. If you follow your dentist's instructions and stick to the details of your treatment plan you will be sure to see a straighter smile at the end of your treatment - it will be worth the wait.