A General Dentist Offers New Tips for the First 2 Weeks of Invisalign® Treatment

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.

Adjusting to your Invisalign® treatments

Here are simple things that patients can do to make their transition to Invisalign® smoother:

1. Track daily use

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.

2. Take good care of the aligner trays

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.

3. Sing while wearing the aligners to speed up the adjustment period

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.

4. Resist the urge to feel the edges of the aligner with the tongue

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.

5. Practice good oral hygiene

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.