One perk of Invisalign that patients often don’t realize until their consultation is that the average treatment timeline is shorter than traditional braces – around 12-18 months. Of course, it’s possible for you to fall off-track with your treatment plan too, which is why patients are encouraged to follow all of the guidelines provided. With this in mind, here are some important dos and don’ts with Invisalign.
Do Clean Your Aligners After Each Meal
You want your aligners to stay clear, right? Then you need to take the time to clean them after each meal! Fortunately, this only takes a minute or two and can be completed with two things: a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean water. On occasion, you can give them a deeper clean with the cleaning crystals that came in your welcome kit too.
Don’t Use Hot Water to Clean Your Aligners
Remember, each aligner is custom-made to place the right amount of pressure on your teeth to incrementally guide them closer and closer to their ideal positions. If they warp – which can happen when hot water is used – then they are virtually useless. So, make sure to double-check the temperature of the water before rinsing or cleaning your trays.
Do Prioritize Your Check-In Appointments
Although monthly adjustment appointments aren’t part of the teeth-straightening process with Invisalign, check-in visits every 6-8 weeks are. It’s important that you prioritize each one because they provide valuable insight into how your teeth are moving. If they aren’t, then your dentist can make the necessary adjustments to your treatment plan early on.
Don’t Start a New Set of Trays Early
You might be tempted to move onto each new set of aligners a bit early in an effort to speed up the treatment process. However, doing so will have the opposite effect. In other words, the best way to see the results you desire as quickly as possible is by following all of the guidelines, including which days to move onto the next pair of trays.
Do Take Your Aligners Off Before Drinking Coffee
Dark-colored beverages of any kind, including coffee, can leave behind stubborn stains that make your aligners look yellow or brown. That’s why it’s so important that you only drink water with your trays in.
Note: To help you meet the 20-22 hour-a-day wear time, drink your coffee alongside your breakfast!
Don’t Leave Your Trays Out on the Counter
Whether you’re going out to dinner with friends or eating breakfast at home, you might be tempted to leave your aligners on the counter, the table, or even your plate. Don’t! This is one of the easiest ways to accidentally throw them away or lose them.
About the Practice
At Weldon Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry of Ocala, we offer several smile-enhancing services, including Invisalign. As a result, patients from all over the area can address gapped, crooked, and otherwise misaligned teeth without drawing unwanted attention to their smiles. If you’re interested in finding out if you’re a candidate, then schedule an appointment with us via our website or by phone at (352) 622-3236.