By Mashum Mollah
Wouldn’t it be awful to pay a ton of money to have your teeth straightened, only to finish the procedure and not see the results you were after?
If you’re going to invest in Invisalign to straighten your teeth and improve the appearance of your smile, don’t you want to know what you can do to see the best results?
If so, keep reading. Listed below are some Invisalign tips that will help you get the most out of this great teeth-straightening service.
What is Invisalign?
First, let’s clarify what Invisalign is and how it differs from other teeth-straightening procedures.
This service uses clear plastic aligners to gently shift and straighten your teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign aligners are non-invasive and can actually be removed while you eat or brush your teeth.
Benefits of Invisalign:
In addition to being more comfortable and easier to care for, there are lots of other benefits that come with choosing Invisalign to straighten your teeth, including the following:
- They’re less conspicuous than metal braces
- There are no food restrictions
- They’re safer
- They come with a shorter treatment time
Patients who are treated with Invisalign also have been shown to have greater satisfaction and better dental health than those who were treated with traditional braces.
Invisalign Tips for Great Results:
In order to reap all the benefits of Invisalign, there’s still some work that needs to be put in on your end. Keep these Invisalign tips in mind to get the best results from your treatment.
Choose the Right Dentist:
When you’re looking for a cosmetic treatment like Invisalign, it’s important to find a good dental clinic and a qualified dentist who will prioritize your dental health and do a good job creating your aligners.
Start by asking for recommendations from friends and family. You can also look at online third-party review sites like Yelp to find someone who has a good reputation.
Brush and Floss Daily:
Invisalign makes it easy for you to prioritize your oral hygiene while straightening your teeth. To avoid cavities or stains, make sure you’re brushing your teeth morning and night and flossing at least once a day.
The First 48 Hours are Crucial:
Invisalign aligners are great because you can take them out to do things like eating and brushing your teeth. But, during the first 48 hours after you get your aligners, it’s important to avoid taking them out as much as possible.
Your teeth move the most during this period. To get the best results, you should leave the aligners alone and let them do their job. Take them out just long enough to eat or brush your teeth, then put them right back in.
Wear Aligners for at Least 22 Hours Each Day:
After the first 48 hours, you should still try to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours each day. Wearing them less than this will slow down your results and you’ll have to end up wearing the aligners longer than you initially planned. If wearing your aligners for this amount of time simply isn’t in the cards for you, there are Invisalign alternatives (which are also more affordable) that you only need to wear at night.
Change Aligners When You’re Supposed To:
Make sure you change your aligners as soon as your dentist tells you it’s time. This will ensure that your teeth continue to progress on schedule. Even just waiting a few days longer than you’re supposed to can slow things down.
On the flip side, make sure you also don’t try to cheat the process and change your trays before it’s time. This can hurt your teeth and end up putting your results on hold.
Use “Chewies”:
“Chewies” are small cushions that you can use to make your aligners fit better. Sometimes, there are small gaps between the teeth and the aligner. Biting down on chewies can help seal the aligner and help it fit your teeth better.
Bite down on a chewie for 5-10 minutes a few times throughout the day to see better results from your aligners.
Consider Using Invisalign Attachments:
You can also use Invisalign attachments — sometimes referred to as “buttons” — to expedite the treatment process.
Buttons help hold your aligner trays in place to move the teeth a bit faster.
Take Advantage of In-Office Treatments:
Your dentist can also perform in-office treatments to help you see better results from your aligners. The following procedures are most commonly used:
- Interproximal Reduction (IPR): The dentist gently sands down the space between the teeth to create extra space and improve alignment
- PROPEL: The dentist will make a small puncture in the bone to speed up tooth movement
Not everyone needs to utilize these treatments. But, if you feel like you’re not seeing results as quickly as you’d planned, they might be good options for you to try.
Care for Your Aligners Properly:
In addition to practicing good oral hygiene, you should also be sure to keep your aligners clean. This way, you won’t be exposing your teeth to bacteria and cavity-causing particles while you wear them.
Clean your aligners with warm water and some antibacterial soap. You can also buy special products designed for cleaning the trays, but soap and water and usually fine and more affordable.
Avoid using toothpaste to clean your trays. This can scratch the plastic and create spaces that are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Use Whitening Toothpaste:
With traditional braces, it’s not uncommon to deal with unsightly stains when they’re removed. With Invisalign, you can actually whiten your teeth at the same time that you’re straightening them.
Many people find that whitening toothpaste is more effective when they use it during their Invisalign treatment. You might also be able to buy whitening products from your dentist and use the aligners as whitening trays.
Wear Your Retainer When Treatment is Done:
Once your treatment is over, your dentist will give you a retainer. Don’t neglect this!
If you don’t wear your retainer as your dentist prescribes, your teeth are more likely to shift back into the position they were in before, and you’ll be back to square one. Wouldn’t that be a waste?
Want to Learn More?
Do you want more Invisalign tips? Or, do want to learn about what else you can do to enhance your smile and improve your dental health?
Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it in our other health and lifestyle blog posts. Check them out today!
Read Also :
