Are you tired of having crooked teeth, but don’t want to get braces? That could only mean it’s Invisalign time.
People of all ages can feel more confident about getting their teeth fixed with this nearly invisible treatment.
Getting Invisalign can be simple, but there is important information that you should know when wearing Invisalign.
Here is what you should know before getting Invisalign:
Always Wear Your Aligners
Wearing Invisalign is a full-time commitment. If you want to achieve the best Invisalign results, you need to wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours a day. An orthodontist will prescribe this to you and tell you how long you need to wear your Invisalign.
The only time you should take your Invisalign out is to eat, brush your teeth, or floss. It is important to make a habit of remembering to put your aligners back in after doing these tasks. It’s easy to forget to put them back in.
At first, it may be difficult to talk with your new aligners in your mouth. You may do a lot of mumbling and lisping. Even in these tough circumstances, you should keep your aligners in.
How Long Do You Wear Invisalign?
Invisalign is the right choice for those with minor or moderate orthodontic problems. Although Invisalign can work for complex cases, it may take a long amount of time for your teeth to align.
Invisalign works faster and more efficiently than traditional braces. Most patients can see visible results within 2-3 months.
Depending on how simple your case is, treatment could be finished as soon as six months. In other cases, Invisalign typically takes 12 to 18 months to straighten teeth. The most complex cases, such as crowded teeth can take up to 24 months or longer.
The length of treatment will vary depending on factors like how much your teeth need to move, the distance the teeth need to move, the pace of your teeth movement, etc.
To ensure that your teeth are straightened as quickly as possible for your case, you must wear your aligners for the recommended 20-22 hours a day.
You May Feel Discomfort
You may feel some pressure or discomfort when your trays get changed out every two weeks. For most people this pain is minimal.
Usually, Invisalign aligners are quite comfortable to wear. The degree of discomfort varies from person to person. Some people report discomfort and others do not, this will depend on the person, smile, and pain tolerance.
Be Mindful of What You Eat and Drink
Since your aligners need to stay in your mouth for a specific amount of time a day, you will have to fit all of your eating and drinking into a few hours. This does not include drinking water.
Every time you finish eating, you need to brush and floss before putting your aligners back in your mouth.
If you are used to snacking mid-afternoon, it may not be worth it when it is Invisalign time. Once you finish your snack, you have to go through brushing your teeth and flossing before putting the aligners back in.
Eating enough during the main meals of the day is important to reduce the hassle of snacking. Eliminating the constant snacking could be an added benefit to Invisalign treatment.
It is also important to be mindful of how much time you spend drinking coffee in the morning or sipping wine at night when you have Invisalign. Your Invisalign aligners can stain when you drink certain things.
Every Invisalign Treatment Is Unique
Invisalign will work with the orthodontist to custom make each aligner. After your mouth is scanned, the Invisalign lab creates all of the aligners that you will change out about every two weeks.
Some patients may have additional parts to their Invisalign treatment.
Buttons are small, tooth-colored brackets that some patients need as part of their treatment. Some treatments may require rubber bands that are used similarly as those used with metal braces.
Aligners Need to Be Cleaned Properly
Cleaning your aligners and cleaning your teeth are going to be two different processes.
Toothpaste should not be used when cleaning your aligners. Brushing your aligners could make them yellow. Because toothpaste contains abrasive ingredients, it could damage your aligners if used as a cleanser.
A mild aligner cleanser should be used to clean your aligners. This way they can be properly cleaned without doing any damage.
Remember to Floss
You are always told flossing is an important part of keeping your teeth clean. Although you should do it every day, most people do not keep up with it.
When you go through Invisalign treatment, flossing is very important. You must keep your teeth and gums as clean as possible. Food, plaque, and more could build up in between your teeth if you are not flossing. This can rub off into your aligners which can result in them not fitting properly.
Not flossing can cause a lot of unnecessary pain, especially during Invisalign treatment. Make sure you are remembering to floss every day and using a correct flossing technique.
You Need to Wear a Retainer
Once treatment is done and you have achieved the Invisalign results you want, patients will get a retainer.
The retainer is still part of the Invisalign treatment. Wearing a retainer post-treatment will ensure that your teeth stay straight and beautiful long-term.
It’s Invisalign Time!
Well, what are you waiting for? Invisalign time starts now.
Sing Orthodontist will provide you with all the information you need to know and can answer any questions you have. You can book a free exam today to find out if Invisalign is right for you or your children.