You probably know one or two people who have successfully straightened their teeth with Invisalign in Bowmanville, so you know the system works. But, using Invisalign correctly will help ensure you get maximum results within the planned timeframe and achieve the predicted treatment outcome. While Invisalign is extremely effective, good compliance is vital. Below are some simple things you can do during your treatment.
Care for Your Aligners
Each set of Invisalign aligners is only used for two weeks, but you must take care of them during this time. When you first receive your aligners, our West Bowmanville Family Dental team will show you how to insert and remove them and, most importantly, keep them clean and fresh. You must clean your aligner trays thoroughly. Because the trays fit so tightly around your teeth, they can easily trap bacteria that cannot be washed away by saliva, potentially becoming a breeding ground for these bacteria, increasing your risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. Looking after your aligners will help protect your dental health during treatment.
Wear Your Aligners All Day
Your aligners will work best when worn for at least twenty-two hours daily. You should only remove them for oral care, during meals, and when drinking anything other than water. Although you can leave them out occasionally for a special event, it is best not to do this too often as it could delay treatment.
Remember to Change Out Your Aligners
As mentioned earlier, you only wear each set for two weeks. Don’t forget to change your Invisalign aligners in Newcastle once the two weeks are up to ensure treatment continues as planned.
Manage any Discomfort
All orthodontic treatment in Clarington will cause some level of discomfort. This is inevitable because your teeth are being forced to move position. Invisalign aligners are more comfortable than traditional braces since there are no metal parts or wires that can dig into cheeks or gums. However, you can still expect to experience some discomfort, especially for the first couple of days after wearing a new set. Usually, over-the-counter pain relief should be adequate to manage this problem, but if the discomfort persists, contact our dental office so we can adjust your treatment plan if necessary.
Remember to Take Out Your Aligners
Even though we want you to wear your aligners nearly all the time, removing them at certain times is still important. You must take them out for meals and when drinking beverages apart from water. If you leave them in, the plastic could become stained and unsightly, or you might damage the aligners.
When you remove your aligners, clean them thoroughly and place them back in your aligner case so you don’t mislay them. Losing them could delay your treatment until we can provide a replacement set.
Follow a Good Oral Care Routine
It is vital to take good care of your teeth and gums during treatment, and luckily, that is super easy to do with Invisalign. You can brush and floss normally and should clean your teeth after each meal and before you replace your aligners.
Attend Follow Up Appointments
We will need to see you regularly during your Invisalign treatment in Courtice just to check your teeth are moving as planned and, if necessary, make any adjustments to your treatment plan. These visits won’t take long since there are no components to adjust, but they are important. They also allow you to ask any questions about treatment or discuss any concerns.
When used properly, Invisalign can provide excellent and predictable results, giving you straighter, nicely aligned teeth and an attractive smile.
