Invisalign is a popular alternative to braces, serving over 4 million people and generating over a billion dollars in sales.
It’s not difficult to understand it’s popularity, you can wear Invisalign in public, still easily reach and clean your teeth, and don’t have to worry about the pain and hassle of braces. But how can you maximize your investment and ensure you get the best results?
If you’ve already decided Invisalign is right for you, keeping reading for 5 Invisalign tips to ensure you get the best results from your orthodontics treatment.
5 Invisalign Tips
Because Invisalign encloses your teeth within plastic, it’s extremely important to follow hygienic practices. You don’t want to enclose food particles and bacteria within them, as they can cause gum or periodontal disease. Keep reading for ways to ensure you get the most out of your Invisalign treatment with the following Invisalign tips.
1. Stick to Water
If you’re wearing your Invisalign, drink only water, and remove them to drink any other beverages. Drinks such as coffee, tea, wine, and soda will stain your aligners. These and other sugary drinks may also become entrapped within your aligners, causing dental issues in the process.
2. Wear the Aligners at Least 22 Hours/Day
The ability to remove orthodontics aligners is a dual-edged sword. On one hand, it makes eating all types of food easy and painless. However, it can also be easy to forget to put the aligners on. Commit to wearing your aligners at least 22 hours each day, and through the first 48 hours whenever you receive a new set. You should only remove them to eat and brush your teeth, and wear them constantly otherwise. This will help speed up your orthodontics treatment.
3. Floss Daily
Invisalign can trap food particles in your mouth and between teeth, making it increasingly important to practice good hygiene. This includes regular brushing in addition to flossing at least once a day.
4. Know How to Clean your Aligners
Most orthodontists recommend simply warm water and anti-bacterial soap to clean aligners. Toothpaste and harsh scrubbing may seem like the best thing to do, but this tactic can actually damage the aligners and may create pores for bacteria to thrive. Stick to the instructions provided by your orthodontist, and regularly clean them to prevent dental issues. Always at least rinse your aligner, even after sleeping, as bacteria will continue to grow within them otherwise.
5. Consider a Whitening Toothpaste
Many patients have noticed that using a whitening toothpaste during their Invisalign treatment has been more effective than post-orthodontic treatment. This is because the trays actually help to hold the whitening ingredients up against the teeth for a longer period of time, making the toothpastes more effective than without using aligners.
Final Thoughts
You’ve already made the investment into Invisalign to improve your smile, so be sure to maximize its effectiveness with the above Invisalign tips. The above tips will ensure your mouth and trays stay clean, and possibly even whiter.
For more information on Invisalign and other questions you may have on dental treatments, visit our blog today.