If you’ve committed to straightening your smile using Invisalign, you’re probably aware of the benefits of this simple and effective treatment. Invisalign is subtle, comfortable, and removable, creating a smile worth working for.
If the treatment daunts you, the good news is that millions of people have already seen great results and found ways to make things as easy as possible.
Here are some of the best hacks to get the most out of your Invisalign treatment.
One of the great things about Invisalign is that you can take your aligner out to eat. But it’s important to keep it safe while you’re not wearing it. Don’t put it in your pocket, leave it on the table, hide it behind your ear, or wrap it in tissue — none of these will do your aligner any good.
Instead, keep it in its case! That way, it won’t get dirty, pick up bacteria, or break.
During your treatment, you’ll need to change the aligner every couple of weeks. Each new aligner furthers the movements of your teeth. But getting used to a new aligner can take a while, and you’ll feel added pressure for a while.
For this reason, the best time to swap aligners is before bed. That way, you can adjust as you sleep.
Just because you have Invisalign doesn’t mean you can’t wear lipstick or lip gloss. After all, the last thing you’d want is lipstick smears making your transparent aligner more apparent.
Thankfully, it’s less that you can’t wear them and more a case of knowing what works. Matte lipstick works well. Just make sure it’s dry before you move your mouth around too much.
If you’re likely to eat anywhere while out of the house, take a travel toothbrush and toothpaste. Food debris will get trapped in your aligner if you put it back on after eating. By brushing straight after you eat, you’ll keep your aligner clean and reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Chewing gum while wearing Invisalign doesn’t work. You should always take your aligner out before eating or drinking anything. But you may be tempted to chew gum with your aligner in. The gum will stick to the aligner, and it’s hard to get it off once it’s stuck there, becoming a magnet for bacteria.
So you might think sucking a boiled sweet or a lollipop doesn’t count as eating. But sucking coloured sweets while wearing Invisalign could stain your aligner. But not only will you have to wear a coloured aligner until it’s replaced, but the sugar will also get trapped below it, increasing the potential for tooth decay.
Whenever you switch to a new aligner, don’t get rid of the last one yet. You may lose or damage your new aligner. At least if you have the last one, you can wear that until we can arrange a replacement. This will maintain the results achieved so far.
If you want to be super-efficient and minimise the time your aligner is out of your mouth, you could soak the trays in a cleaning solution while you eat. And because you need to wear your aligner for 22 hours a day, every second counts.
At Harley Private Dental, we want you to get the best results from your Invisalign treatment. For this reason, we aim to provide you with the best support and care.
To schedule your Invisalign consultation, call us today.
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