Invisalign treatment is a great way to achieve a fantastic smile and enhance confidence. But, it requires proper care to ensure a successful outcome.
Following these five tips is essential to keep your Invisalign aligners clean and bacteria-free. They’ll help you avoid any unnecessary delays or frustration!
How to Care For Your Invisalign Aligners
Wear Your Aligners as Often as Your Doctor Directs
You can expect to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily and only remove them to eat, drink, and brush your teeth. The longer you wear them, the faster your teeth shift to a straighter position.
You’ll switch out one set of aligners for a new one every two weeks. This process should only take a few minutes each time, and you’ll likely only need to visit the dentist or the best invisalign orthodontist near me for checkups once every four or six weeks during treatment.
Invisalign is a perfect alternative to traditional braces because it uses clear, practically invisible, removable aligners. It also requires fewer dental appointments and is faster than conventional braces.
Rinse Your Aligners After Every Meal
If you don’t rinse your aligners after each meal, the food particles and bacteria can build up on them. This can cause discoloration, bad breath, and even tooth decay.
An excellent way to avoid this is by rinsing your aligners with lukewarm water after every meal and before you put them back in your mouth.
This will prevent plaque and bacteria from building up and helps you maintain proper oral hygiene. Using an antibacterial soap can also help you keep your aligners clean, as can soaking them in cleaning crystals once daily.
Brush Your Aligners After Every Meal
One way to ensure your aligners stay clean and free of debris is to brush them after every meal. This will help prevent food particles from building up in them and damaging the aligners.
Then, rinse your aligners well before putting them back in your mouth. This will help keep bacteria from accumulating on them and causing discoloration, bad breath, and cavities.
Another common mistake people make with their Invisalign trays is leaving them on the table after eating. This can be a big no-no because it allows germs to collect on the trays and go straight into your mouth.
Don’t Forget to Floss
Flossing is an essential part of your daily oral hygiene routine. It removes food particles from the spaces between your teeth that your toothbrush bristles can’t reach, reducing your risk of gum disease and cavities while in treatment.
During your Invisalign treatment, it’s essential to remember to floss. Plaque and food particles can build up in the nooks and crannies of your aligners, causing them to become discolored and less effective over time.
You can also eliminate lingering food and plaque by rinsing your aligners in lukewarm water. Avoid using hot or cold water, as extreme temperatures can denature your plastic aligners and cause them to break down more quickly.
Schedule Your Regular Checkup
Invisalign is the best alternative to traditional metal braces and can be a more convenient option for some patients. However, seeing the dentist for regular checkups is still essential, especially if using Invisalign to correct your smile.
In addition, your doctor can help you maintain a good oral hygiene routine, which is essential to the success of your treatment. This includes a thorough cleaning by a hygienist.
Once you begin your Invisalign treatment, you must wear your aligners for at least 20 hours daily. This ensures that they remain in place, allowing them to shift your teeth properly into place.
After your Invisalign treatment, this dentist in Newport News VA recommends wearing retainers to keep your teeth aligned as long as possible.
