Are you looking to straighten your smile? Fortunately, with modern dental technology, you don’t need to settle for a mouth full of metal brackets and wires for who knows how long. Invisalign treatment uses a series of clear plastic aligners to slowly shift your teeth into their new locations, and no one will even be able to tell that you are wearing them. However, your treatment won’t go smoothly if you aren’t caring for them properly. Continue reading to learn more about Invisalign do’s and don’ts.
What Should You Avoid During Invisalign Treatment?
You don’t want to throw off your treatment. You should refrain from doing any of the following:
- Not Cleaning Your Aligners Properly: If you clean your aligners in water that is too hot, you can accidently distort their shape. Don’t use any harsh substances like bleach or hydrogen peroxide because they can also cause damage by degrading the plastic.
- Eat or Drink While Wearing Your Aligners: The only thing that you should consume while wearing your aligners is water. If you are eating or drinking anything else, you need to take your aligners out beforehand so that you don’t accidently damage or discolor them. Hot liquids can distort your aligners, and sugary drinks can get trapped in them and increase your chances of developing cavities. Your aligners aren’t made to withstand the pressure of chewing, so you could accidentally damage them.
- Leaving Your Aligners Out of Their Case: You should always store your aligners in their case when you aren’t wearing them. This way, you are less likely to lose or accidentally throw them away.
How Do You Properly Maintain Invisalign Aligners?
Use the following tips to keep your trays in the best shape possible:
- Clean Them Daily: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear hand soap to brush your aligners every single day to remove any plaque buildup and bacteria. If you aren’t cleaning them often, you are more likely to have bad breath and tooth decay.
- Soak Your Aligners: To keep your aligners extra fresh, you should soak them each day with Invisalign cleaning crystals or a non-abrasive denture cleaner. After you soak them for about 15 to 30 minutes, use a toothbrush to remove any residue.
- Brush and Floss: After each and every snack or meal, you should brush and floss your teeth. At the very least, you should rinse your mouth out with water. If you do not, leftover food can become trapped against the teeth by the trays and cause staining and tooth decay.
By using the tips listed above, your Invisalign treatment is likely to go as planned. This will make sure you achieve your final results as soon as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Brian Oyler is an experienced dentist who has been practicing for more than two decades. In addition to being an Invisalign certified dentist, he has also earned a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and is a member of numerous other professional organizations, including the American Dental Association and the Indiana Dental Association. For more information on Invisalign or to schedule a consultation at his office in Lawrenceburg, visit his website or call (812) 221-1014.
