Sometimes in life there are things that you find out when it’s a little too late to do anything about it. Maybe you realized after the fact that you shouldn’t have washed your new red shirt with your (previously) white socks, or that you’re supposed to defrost the turkey before you put it in the oven on Thanksgiving. But with thankfully with Invisalign aligners, you can benefit from the wisdom of many other wearers with this helpful list of things you should know before committing to treatment!
Nailed It
One thing many patients (especially women) don’t think about is how the length of their fingernails can affect their ability to take off and put on their aligners. Though they do make removal tools, long nails can still cause some issues, so be prepared to keep yours short, or find a method that works that won’t drive you crazy every time you need to eat or brush your teeth!
Let’s Be Clear
Though Invisalign is “clear,” you can still stain or discolor your trays, and even the buttons attached to your teeth to hold them in place. Thus, it is extremely important to keep your teeth clean by regularly brushing and flossing, and by scrubbing your aligners daily with non-abrasive toothpaste. For an additional boost of sparkle, you can also purchase aligner soak, however, be sure to only use clear ones. Some tinted soaks and mouthwashes can cause them to become permanently discolored!
Clean Up Time
With Invisalign, it truly is easier to clean your teeth, however you will likely spend more time doing it. That’s because you need to brush each time you eat or drink anything besides water and floss each time you eat. Thus, if you have six meals and snacks and a few non-water drinks, you could be brushing a half dozen or more times a day! For this reason, many patients find that wearing them changes their diets. Sticking to water and skipping extra snacks will help keep your oral hygiene routine to a minimum and will allow you more time to be aligner-free for main meals.
Free Speech
While it doesn’t last forever, many people report a slight lisp during the first month of treatment. This happens as your mouth gets used to the aligners and learns to adapt to them. Thankfully, this is temporary and will not have any lasting effect on your speech, but you may feel a little embarrassed to talk initially. If you have an important call or presentation, you can always take them off temporarily but remember that you should be wearing them for 22 hours a day, and that two-hour break includes time for meals and hygiene, so try not to take them out for too long!
Take it Down a Notch
Finally, while not everyone needs this, it is not uncommon to require a procedure called interproximal reduction or IPR. This is when your teeth are shaved down by about a tenth of a millimeter to better accommodate their new positioning. It can also help make the teeth look more even once treatment is complete, so the wear patterns match, and you don’t have any jagged edges sticking out due to repositioning.
Remember, Invisalign is a safe and effective treatment that is much easier to manage than traditional braces, however there are still a few ins and outs you should be aware of before you commit to it!
About Dr. Holland
Dr. William “Vaughn” Holland has oral health in his blood! A fourth-generation dentist, he decided to focus on orthodontics so he could be the best at what he does, and that persistence has paid off. Dr. Holland specializes in complicated cases like children with congenitally missing teeth, temporomandibular joint disorders, and interdisciplinary needs.
To schedule an appointment for Invisalign at Ortega Orthodontics, please visit our website or call us today at 904-388-4600.