During your Invisalign treatment, the most important thing you can do is to follow the plan set out by your dentist. Here are some tips to ensure that your Invisalign treatment stays on track.
You’re making a major commitment to an orthodontic treatment when you choose Invisalign. That's why it's important to take your treatment plan seriously and follow the instructions set out by your dentist. By remaining committed to your treatment and following these simple tips, you will soon see the benefits of Invisalign.
1. Follow Your Treatment Plan
When you first begin treatment, your dentist will review your treatment plan with you and answer any questions you may have. At that appointment your dentist will carefully explain how to wear, clean and care for your aligners throughout treatment. It's imperative that you follow these directions in order to keep your treatment on schedule.
2. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Attend your regularly scheduled dental appointments during your treatment period. By visiting your dentist regularly they will be able to track your progress and make treatment recommendations.
3. Wear Your Aligners For At Least 20 Hours A Day
It's important to resist the temptation to remove your aligners unnecessarily. Our dentists recommend you wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, and only remove them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
4. Change Your Aligners In The Right Order
Change your aligners according to your dentists instructions. Your treatment won't go any faster if you put in different trays earlier than planned.
5. Keep Your Teeth Clean
You should clean your teeth every time you remove your aligners, before putting them back in. Good oral hygiene habits, including brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, will help you prevent the build up of plaque and bacteria under your aligners.
6. Keep Your Aligners Clean
It's important to keep your aligners free of bacteria and plaque. Use a soft toothbrush, soft soap and a gentle brushing motion to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the aligners and then rinse. Every time that you take your aligners out, be sure to rinse them under running water before you put them back in your mouth.
7. Monitor Your Diet
Only drink water while you're wearing your aligners. Foods and coloured drinks can stain your aligners so be sure to remove them before enjoying these, and clean your aligners before putting them back in your mouth. You may find it easiest to eat three meals a day and skip snacks as much as possible to limit the amount of time you need to remove and clean your aligners.
8. Tough Out Any Discomfort
As with traditional braces, there is an adjustment period when wearing Invisalign. The whole point of Invisalign is to shift your teeth into a straighter smile, so the aligners have to put pressure on the teeth which can cause some discomfort. Rest assured that after a while, your gums and cheeks will toughen up and the aligners will no longer cause discomfort.
9. Practice Pronunciation
You may notice a slight lisp when you first wear your Invisalign aligners. This lisp is typically only obvious to you. If Invisalign does seem to cause a slight lisp that doesn’t go away naturally, you can correct it by simply practicing the pronunciation of words while wearing your aligners.
10. Be Patient
Only your dentist can give you an accurate estimate of how long your treatment will take, based on your misalignment. Follow your dentist's instructions and stick to the details of your treatment plan and you will be sure to see a straighter smile at the end of your treatment - it will be worth the wait!