Do you use Invisalign?
Who wouldn’t? It’s a revolutionary solution and one of the most recommended means of getting back a perfect smile.
That said, it’s still important to learn how to take care of it. You need to understand a few basic Invisalign dos and don’ts to ensure your investment lasts as long as intended.
In this guide, you’ll learn some Invisalign tips and tricks, so read on and find out more:
1. Do Soak Your Aligners at Least Once a Day
If you want to keep your Invisalign looking and smelling great, you need to soak your aligners at least once per day. You can use denture cleaners or the cleaning crystals made by Invisalign. After finishing the soak, you need to get another toothbrush and brush all food particles and plaque.
Make sure that the toothbrush isn’t the same one you use for brushing real teeth. After you’re done brushing, rinse them with warm water before you slip it back into your mouth. That helps ensure that the food particles won’t grow and cause more cavities to your real teeth.
2. Do Brush and Floss Your Teeth Before Wearing Invisalign
Your teeth and gums should stay clean and healthy. Otherwise, you’ll end up with the same dental problems later on. Regular brushing and flossing are also important to keep your teeth clean and strong.
Always ensure that your teeth are clean before putting your aligners back into your mouth. This helps in optimizing your oral cleanliness. If you don’t, the food particles can become trapped against your real teeth inside the Invisalign.
3. Do Consider Snacks Carefully
Do you enjoy eating small food throughout the day instead of having three large meals? If so, you’ll need to adjust this activity to keep your Invisalign well-maintained. You must remember that Invisalign’s effectiveness depends on whether you can wear it for 20-22 hours a day.
If you want to eat something that would impact your Invisalign, you need to take it out. If you don’t, you’ll end up shortening your aligner’s lifespan. The best part is that you can opt not to eat snacks instead.
Lots of Invisalign users found that they lost a few pounds while on this orthodontic treatment. It’s great since it will make you think whether your snack is worth removing the Invisalign. Thinking twice can reduce your snack rampages over time.
4. Do Stop Taking in Too Much Caffeine
Do you drink coffee aside from breakfast? If so, you’re likely to sip one cup after another to keep you up and running. But with Invisalign, you might need to reassess this habit.
Wearing this aligner will give you enough opportunities to stop this habit. After all, the only recommended beverage you can drink with this on is water. Coffee is one of the worst things to drink since it will stain your aligners.
With these stains, people can see that you’re wearing braces. That will defeat the purpose of Invisalign, ruining its quality. That’s why you should think about whether a warm cup of coffee is worth destroying your aligners.
5. Don’t Leave the Trays Laying Out
On the don’ts side of the Invisalign dos and don’ts, leaving it out in the open is the worst decision. You must store your aligners in their case when you aren’t using them. If you leave them in the open air, you’ll risk exposing it to airborne pathogens, building up bacteria.
If you don’t put it in its case, you’re likely to lose or damage your aligners. That’s why you need to have your aligner case at the ready, regardless of where you are. You need to soak and rinse your Invisalign first if you leave them out for a few hours.
6. Don’t Forget to Plan Your Trips
You should take note that you need to switch to a new Invisalign aligner every few weeks. That’s why you’ll need to have some foresight and planning while you’re under this treatment. If you’re having a long vacation away from home, make sure to pack new ones along with your current aligners.
A good alternative is to get the new ones shipped to your current location. Nothing must disrupt your treatment. Otherwise, you might end up restarting it and end up worse than before.
7. Don’t Clean Your Invisalign Using Colored or Scented Soaps
Make sure to avoid using substances with strong colors and scents. This will include both soaps and toothpaste. The main reason is that it’s bound to leave some residue on your Invisalign trays, resulting in discoloration in the long run.
Another disadvantage of this is the possible unpleasant taste it can give your aligners. That’s why you need to make an effort and consider what’s suitable for Invisalign cleaning.
8. Don’t Smoke
Another bad habit that you should start eliminating is smoking. With the 20- to 22-hour wearing requirement, you’ll only have enough time to eat and drink. That won’t leave you a lot of time to consider smoking.
Besides, smoking while wearing Invisalign will have some unpleasant effects. The main disadvantage is that it will result in quick discolorations with your aligners. If you’re a regular smoker, this might be the best time for you to start thinking about quitting.
Follow This Invisalign Dos and Don’ts Guide!
This is the list that you should keep in mind if you’re trying to get an Invisalign treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask your dentist for more Invisalign dos and don’ts. They know more things that might impact your dental health.
Do you need a dental consultation? If so, contact us today and we’ll help you schedule one with our expert dentists.