Because Invisalign first went public in 2000, most users of Invisalign aligners are now younger than the brand itself. Despite this, many users are still confused about how to live with their Invisalign day-to-day as they work towards straight teeth.
Yuba City Orthodontics is here to help. We’ve compiled seven simple tips to ensure a smooth time with Invisalign. Read on to live your best ‘invisalife’.
1. Brush Your Teeth and Floss Daily
The ease with which you can still brush and floss your teeth is one of the pluses of Invisalign over braces. Don’t waste that advantage and continue to do your proper dental work!
The ADA recommends you floss at least once a day and you should brush your teeth at least twice a day. With Invisalign, you’ll want to brush after meals as well. Speaking of which…
2. Watch Out for High-Risk Foods
One surefire way to ruin your Invisalign aligners is to gunk them up with sticky foods. After eating foods like taffy or hard candies, be extra vigilant with your brushing to keep leftovers out of your Invisalign.
Keep watch for dark beverages as well. Coffee and tea can stain both teeth and Invisalign with ease.
3. Rinse Your Aligners Nightly
Your mouth generates quite a bit of bacteria over a day. Trust us, you don’t want any of that carrying over to tomorrow. Rid your Invisalign of bacteria with nightly rinses.
To rinse your Invisalign aligners, run them under soft water and gently brush them with a toothbrush. Aggressive brushing runs the risk of damaging your aligners for future use.
4. Track Your Hours Wearing Aligners
Invisalign recommends you wear your aligners 20-22 hours a day. While these hours seem simple, it’s easy to lose track of time when you remove Invisalign for eating, drinking, and brushing.
Keep a journal or running timer of time spent with your Invisalign removed. This way, you’ll know exactly when you need to keep them on or take them off.
5. Prepare for Adjustments
While less painful than braces, Invisalign adjustments still cause discomfort. If you have an important meeting or event, you’ll want to acclimate to your adjusted Invisalign beforehand.
Avoid scheduling adjustments before major life events. Alternatively, get your Invisalign adjusted in the evening to acclimate overnight.
6. Don’t Throw Out Your Previous Invisalign Aligners
Invisalign is known for its lightweight design and near transparency. However, both of these factors make your aligners extremely easy to lose!
Keep your previous aligners from your last check-up just in case a disaster strikes. While they won’t advance your progress, they’ll keep you stagnant while you wait for your next appointment.
7. Enjoy Your Life as Normal
Invisalign treatment offers some incredible benefits over braces, so make sure you use them! Eat what you want, drink what you want, and be merry.
Book an Invisalign Appointment Today
It’s easy to keep your Invisalign clean and functional. As long as you remain diligent and conscious of potential pitfalls, Invisalign aligners will fix your teeth in no time.
Want to get started using Invisalign? Contact us online or call us at our nearest office number for Invisalign and other orthodontic work.