Carefully following the treatment plan laid out by your dentist is the most important thing you can do during your Invisalign treatment. Here, our Surrey dentists share 10 tips to help you get the most out of your Invisalign treatment.
By choosing Invisalign you’re making a major commitment to an orthodontic treatment. So it's important to follow the instructions set out by your dentist and to take your treatment plan seriously. By staying committed to your treatment and following these simple tips, you'll soon begin seeing the benefits of Invisalign.
1. Follow Your Treatment Plan
When you decide that Invisalign is the right orthodontic treatment for you, your dentist will create then review your custom treatment plan with you. Your dentist will also take the time to answer any questions you may have and carefully explain how you should wear, clean and care for your aligners. It's important that you follow your treatment plan precisely in order to get the most out of Invisalign.
2. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Regular checkups allow your dentist to track your progress and make treatment recommendations along the way. Be sure to attend your regularly scheduled appointments at your dental office throughout your treatment period.
3. Wear Your Aligners For At Least 20 Hours A Day
Our dentists recommend you wear your Invisalign clear aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, and only remove them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing. So be sure to resist the temptation to remove them more often than you absolutely need to.
4. Change Your Aligners In The Right Order
You won’t make your treatment go faster if you put in different aligners earlier than planned! Change to the next set of aligners only when your dentist's instructions indicate that you should.
5. Keep Your Teeth Clean
Brushing and flossing your teeth thoroughly and regularly will help you to prevent the build up of plaque and bacteria under your aligners. Clean your teeth every time you remove your aligners, before putting your aligners back in place.
6. Keep Your Aligners Clean
It's important to keep your aligners free of bacteria and plaque. To clean your aligners use a soft toothbrush, soft soap and a gentle brushing motion to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the aligners and then rinse. Whenever you take out your aligners be sure to rinse them under running water before you put them back in your mouth.
7. Monitor Your Diet
Coloured foods and drinks can stain your aligners, so be sure to only drink water while your aligners are in your mouth. Remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything but water, and clean them before putting them back in your mouth. Our dentists recommended eating three meals a day and skipping snacks in order to limit the amount of time you need to remove and clean your aligners.
8. Tough Out Any Discomfort
There is an adjustment period when wearing Invisalign, as there is with any orthodontic treatment. Since you're wearing Invisalign in order to shift your teeth into a straighter smile, the aligners have to put pressure on the teeth. Your gums and cheeks will toughen up after awhile and the aligners will no longer cause you discomfort.
9. Practice Pronunciation
When you begin wearing your aligners you may notice a slight lisp. The lisp is typically only obvious to you, is usually temporary and, if it persists, can easily be corrected. If you find that you have a slight lisp caused by Invisalign you can correct it easily by practicing the pronunciation of any words you are struggling with. Practice makes perfect and will help you adjust to wearing your aligners.
10. Be Patient
Only your dentist can give you an accurate estimate of how long your treatment will take. If you follow your dentist's instructions and stick to the details of your treatment plan you will be sure to see a straighter smile at the end of your treatment. A beautiful straight smile is worth the wait!