Invisalign Tips

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – Invisalign is a wonderful advancement in the orthodontic world, and people everywhere love using it. But if you’re making the decision to wear the clear aligners, there are a few things you might need to know. YourMinneapolis/St. Paul orthodontist and Invisalign provider offers some Invisalign tips.

1. They only work if you wear them as prescribed. Your orthodontist will recommend you wear the aligners for 22 hours each day, and that’s for a reason. The aligners can only move your teeth when they are in your mouth, so only remove them to eat, drink, brush and floss. That means no taking them out for a big date or other event!
2. Never leave home without a toothbrush and floss. Just like with standard braces, you’ll want to pay close attention to your oral care routine while wearing Invisalign. The aligners are removable, so you don’t have to alter your routine in any way, other than adding a few more brushings in each day. You’ll want to brush after each time you eat to remove food particles before placing your aligners back in your mouth.
3. The aligners may impede your speech in the beginning. One thing people love about Invisalign is that the aligners are clear, making them invisible to friends and colleagues. But just because they can’t seem them, doesn’t mean they won’t be noticeable. You may want to practice your speech as you might notice a slight lips in the first few days of wearing the aligners.
4. If you drink coffee, red wine, tea or anything that might stain your teeth, it will stain your aligners, too. Tea, wine and coffee can all lead to discolored aligners, which will make them noticeable to those around you. Factor these drinks in to meals, as you’ll have your aligners out during these times, and drinking won’t eat in to your prescribed hours or wear.
5. Never drink hot beverages with your aligners in. Just as a hot cup of coffee can stain the aligners, hot beverages can also warp the plastic the aligners are made from, causing an improper fit in your mouth.
6. While Invisalign has less pain than traditional braces, thanks to no metal or wire irritating your mouth and no need for tightening, it doesn’t mean there won’t be uncomfortable moments. Your teeth have to become loose to move to their new ideal locations, and this can be slightly uncomfortable. Each time you move to a new set of aligners, you may notice a day or two of tightness and some slight discomfort.
7. You can’t compare your treatment to anyone else’s, even if you think your issues are similar. Each person has a different mouth that will respond in a different way to treatment. So even if your neighbor had a malocclusion that you think was like yours, you can’t assume your treatment will be the same as hers.
8. Never leave home without a safe place to put your aligners when eating. Keep a retainer case with you so that you’ll have be less likely to accidentally throw your aligners away with trash when you’re finished eating.
9. Keep your aligners clean. If you don’t regularly clean your aligners, they’ll become discolored. Simply clean them with a mild detergent or soap and rinse thoroughly before placing them back in your mouth. Avoid using toothpaste as many toothpastes are abrasive, which can damage the aligners.
10. Invisalign takes a commitment from you. Your orthodontist can create the ideal plan to give you the smile of your dreams, but if you aren’t committed to sticking to the plan, it will all go out the window. Wear the aligners as prescribed, and change the aligners on time and in the order your orthodontist prescribes. You can’t speed up your treatment by moving up a few aligners.

By following these tips and all instructions given to you by your orthodontist, you’ll have a great Invisalign experience and will be showing off a new, beautiful smile in no time.

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