If you have just started treatment with Invisalign® clear aligners, you will have to deal with an adjustment period of sorts as your teeth and mouth get used to having these plastic trays in your mouth for most of the day and while you sleep.
Here are simple things that patients can do to make their transition to Invisalign® smoother:
Keep track of the times you have the aligners in. That way, the patient can make sure they are wearing their aligners for 20-22 hours daily. There are apps that can be used to track tray time.
While patients will get several aligner trays at the start of their treatment and switch them out as needed, proper maintenance is still needed to get the most out of these aligners. Simple things that patients can do to keep their Invisalign® aligners in good condition include:
Store them in an appropriate container: Patients should make it a priority to have the cases for their aligners in the car, office or purse. It is best to avoid wrapping it up with a napkin or paper towel, since that can lead to the aligner being tossed away.
Clean the trays often: Cleaning Invisalign® aligner trays is easy. Simply run them under lukewarm water, and use a clear liquid soap or Invisalign® cleaner to wash them. Patients should also rinse out their tray before reinserting it after meals.
Wear them properly: Improperly using the aligner tray can lead to it becoming warped or damaged. As a result, the tray will no longer be as effective doing its job.
Clear aligners can feel strange in a patient's mouth. It can even lead to a temporary lisp for some patients. The trays will eventually feel like a part of the patient's mouth, and they will be able to speak properly while wearing it. The adjustment can be sped up by singing while wearing the aligners.
While Invisalign® aligner trays are made with smooth plastics, they can be abrasive to a person's tongue when they are not used to wearing them. The tongue will eventually get used to having aligners on the teeth. Use dental wax to cover up any areas that feel abrasive.
One of the great benefits of Invisalign® is the fact that it does not promote tooth decay if the patient has good oral hygiene. Patients should brush their teeth before inserting their aligners in the morning, and they should brush after every meal.
Call or visit our Benicia clinic to learn more about dealing with the first few weeks of Invisalign® treatments.
Request an appointment here: https://beniciadentist.com or call Southampton Dental Care at (707) 887-5075 for an appointment in our Benicia office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Invisalign® is a teeth-straightening treatment that entails wearing sets of custom-made transparent aligners over the teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces that use wires and brackets, the aligners are removable, which means wearers can take them off when they want to eat or brush their teeth. Learn about these clear aligners and how they are used to…
An article by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare states that more than 18 million people wear partial dentures. Anyone who has been considering getting partials to improve their speech, ability to chew, and even their appearance is not alone. It helps to have the proper information beforehand, though. Partials are created from a wide variety of materials, each…
A smile makeover often leads to increased self-esteem and confidence. Having a radiant, healthy smile also gives you increased success during professional and personal interactions. People with great smiles are often perceived as attractive and successful, while those with unsightly smiles are sometimes viewed as unclean and unsuccessful. A smile makeover is a combination of…
Choosing dental implants is a great idea if you are looking into your tooth-replacement options because you are missing one or more of your teeth. This option is one that offers benefits that other replacement options do not, which is why so many patients are choosing implants to replace their missing teeth. Other replacement options…
Invisalign® is a teeth-straightening treatment that entails wearing sets of custom-made transparent aligners over the teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces that use wires and brackets, the aligners are removable, which means wearers can take them off when they want to eat or brush their teeth. Learn about these clear aligners and how they are used to…
An article by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare states that more than 18 million people wear partial dentures. Anyone who has been considering getting partials to improve their speech, ability to chew, and even their appearance is not alone. It helps to have the proper information beforehand, though. Partials are created from a wide variety of materials, each…