Invisalign tips might not seem necessary once you understand the treatment. Invisalign is an incredible tool or Rosenberg orthodontists use to help patients attain a beautiful, healthy smile. This system of clear, removable plastic aligners provides patients with a comfortable, discreet, and convenient way to straighten teeth.
When it comes to orthodontics, though, the treatment is only as effective as your orthodontist. That’s why it’s vital to find an orthodontist with the experience and skills necessary to guide you along the path. One of the reasons our patients love Rosenberg Dental Group is that so many patients are candidates for treatment with Invisalign. While you might hear that these aligners can only fix simple cases, that’s not quite true.
Just about any problem that we’d use traditional braces for can be treated with Invisalign. Really, it’s only the truly severe cases that require a more demanding treatment. With our experienced staff on your side, we can address complex cases with this treatment.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses clear aligner trays to correct issues in the position of your teeth. Every few weeks, you gain new sets of trays. Over time, they shift the position of your teeth to provide you with a healthier, more beautiful smile.
Invisalign treatment is comfortable, convenient, and discreet. Oftentimes, the minimal impact on your daily life is the main reason patients choose this treatment. However, it’s important to remember that there are still steps to take that ensure you keep your smile healthy throughout treatment.
Below, our Rosenberg Orthodontists cover essential Invisalign tips you need to know to make the most of your journey to straighten your teeth.
How Does Invisalign Work?
The plastic aligner trays used in this system are customized to fit your teeth. These trays are removable and comfortable, making them a convenient alternative to traditional braces. The process begins when your Rosenberg orthodontist takes impressions of your teeth to create a model of your mouth.
With this model, we are better able to plan your treatment and have the trays crafted accordingly. As you change out sets of aligners, they are designed to slowly shift the position of your teeth. Little by little, your smile transforms throughout the process. Another benefit of Invisalign over braces is that you can actually see the progress happen.
Invisalign Tips for Aligners
One of the main Invisalign tips is to ensure you wear your aligners. The treatment only works when you wear the trays as prescribed. Your Rosenberg orthodontist will cover this information with you, but it’s important to wear your aligners for around 22 hours each day in order to gain the best results.
The best advice we can give is to only remove the aligners when you need to eat or go through your oral hygiene process.
Keeping Your Aligners Safe
Among our Invisalign tips, using a case for your aligners is key. When you aren’t wearing your aligner trays, be sure to store them in a case. If you place them on a napkin while you eat or leave them in your pet’s path as your brush your teeth, you risk misplacing or damaging the trays. This can result in needing replacement sets made, which can impact the duration of your treatment.
For those who aren’t the best at keeping track of their things, it’s best to establish a routine. For example, if you brush and eat around the same times each day and keep your Invisalign case handy, it becomes more of a habit. If you’re worried about losing the case itself, try storing it in a larger bag that’s harder to lose.
Aside from keeping track of your aligner trays, it’s also important to avoid exposing them to extreme heat. When you leave them in your car on a hot day or rinse them in too hot water, it has the potential to warp the plastic. In turn, you impact the treatment.
Getting the Right Fit
When it comes to Invisalign tips, it’s important to ensure your aligners fit like a glove. The better the trays fit against your teeth, the stronger your results. Our Rosenberg orthodontic specialists use modern technology to help with aligner seating.
One of the best ways to ensure that your trays fit is to wear them continuously. When you leave your trays out for too long, you might find that they don’t quite fit the next time you try to put them back in.
Comfort and Care
Oftentimes, Invisalign tips aren’t necessary for comfort. The treatment typically doesn’t hurt since there are no brackets or wires. However, your teeth might be sensitive at the start of the treatment or when you get a new set of aligners.
When you feel discomfort, stick to softer foods and cold drinks until you feel the tenderness subside. Whether you opt for smoothies and soups or ice water and mashed potatoes, opt for foods that are easier on sensitive teeth.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol can also help with discomfort. Generally, any discomfort goes away after a day or two. Really, it’s just a sign that the system is working.
Drinking and Eating
Are you wondering what foods you can eat with Invisalign? The good news is that you can eat whatever you normally eat throughout your treatment. Since you take the aligners out to eat or drink anything aside from water, you don’t have to worry about food restrictions.
Regarding Invisalign tips, though, it’s important to remind you that you need to wear the aligners for around 22 hours each day. Some patients find that this results in them snacking far less. Others need to remind themselves during long, leisurely dinners that they need to remember their wear time. Adjust your meals accordingly, and enjoy the food you love.
Invisalign and Your Speech
Our Rosenberg orthodontists have extensive experience with Invisalign and have seen broad differences in how the trays impact patients. While some patients have no issues with speech, others notice a mild lisp at the start of the treatment. If you need Invisalign tips for speech, we’ve got you covered.
Over time, your speech should return to normal as you adjust to wearing the aligners. However, you can speed up this process by continuing to talk. This will allow you to adjust faster. Whether you read aloud to yourself or talk on the phone with your friends, you’ll acclimate to the treatment more quickly.
How to Clean Invisalign Aligners
Oftentimes, our patients ask us how to clean Invisalign. One option is to purchase specific cleaning products. However, the best cleaner in our experience is a simple combo of water and a toothbrush.
When you take your aligners out, brush them gently with a soft toothbrush. Afterward, rinse them off with lukewarm water. As we said earlier, hot water can damage your aligners. This helps you avoid plaque buildup and keep your trays nice and clear.
While you might see some Invisalign tips about using toothpaste, we don’t recommend this. Some toothpastes are abrasive, and they can scratch or dull the surface of your aligners. If you ever need a deeper clean for your aligners, use mouthwash or a mild, clear dish soap. Just be sure to rinse them thoroughly before you pop them back in your mouth.
Oral Hygiene and Invisalign Tips
More important than keeping your aligners clean is keeping your teeth clean when you wear Invisalign. While it might seem like Invisalign tips aren’t necessary, it’s important to really step up your hygiene game throughout the treatment.
When you have starches or sugars on your teeth and put in your aligners, it traps the food debris up against your teeth. This increases your risk of cavities. Moreover, a key difference when you wear aligners is that your saliva can’t rinse away plaque and food debris.
This is something we tend to do subconsciously. In turn, many patients don’t think about it as part of their daily oral hygiene process.
Whenever you eat or drink anything, brush your teeth afterward. When you’re at work or school, it’s a good idea to carry around a travel oral care kit. If you don’t have one, rinse your mouth out thoroughly before putting your trays back in.
Ready to Try Invisalign?
Now, you are equipped with the basic Invisalign tips you need to maintain your treatment. If you’re ready to start your Invisalign journey, book a consultation with our Rosenberg orthodontists! Schedule your visit with Rosenberg Dental Group today by booking an appointment online or calling us at (281) 342-1517.
