What are Some Tips for the New Invisalign Users?

February 2, 2022

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment where invisible braces are custom-designed to cover the teeth and align them over time. It is an alternative treatment to using metal braces. Invisalign gives you the freedom to smile and laugh without feeling conscious about wearing teeth braces. It’s a discreet solution for teens and adults.

Dentists in San Diego recommend Invisaligners to patients who prefer a modern way to align crooked teeth. While this treatment has its benefits, you need to take necessary care to avoid other dental issues. Let’s look at some critical tips for new Invisalign users.

1. Brush Your Teeth

Wearing the aligners doesn’t mean you don’t have to follow oral hygiene. In fact, there are higher chances of bacteria piling up as the trays cover your teeth for long durations. Remove the trays and brush your teeth twice a day. Flossing after every meal ensures that food particles don’t get trapped between your teeth and the trays.

Pay more attention to oral hygiene when using aligners
Use mouthwash, too but only after removing the trays
Don’t eat anything after you brush your teeth at night Patients who don’t follow proper oral hygiene are at a higher risk of suffering from infections due to aligners.

2. Drink Only Water with Invisalign

It is a very vital tip. Your dentist will help you with a list of what you should and shouldn't do. Follow them without fail. While some dentists say it’s okay to drink water when you have the trays on your teeth, others recommend removing them even when drinking water.
Wearing the aligners for the first time will be a little uncomfortable. Even your speech will sound slightly different until you get used to the trays in your mouth. In such instances, eating food with the trays covering your teeth can be very difficult and cause pain. Not to mention, the food will be trapped in the aligners and lead to bad breath.

What to avoid when wearing invisaligners:

Hot or cold beverages
Hot and cold food items
Chewing gum
Water (confirm with the dentist)

3. Change Trays as per Schedule

The San Diego dentists will give you a proper schedule to replace the aligners to prevent infections. There are two crucial aspects related to the changing trays.

One, get the new set of trays designed on time
Two, keep the previous trays instead of throwing them away

The reasons for both are simple:

Using old trays way past the deadline can cause dental problems
You won’t have aligners if the new trays don’t fit properly Clean and preserve the previous trays to use when there’s an issue with the new set. At the same time, don’t replace the trays faster than necessary. It’ll hurt your teeth more.

4. Don’t Clean the Invisaligners with Toothpaste

We just told you to clean the aligners. So how do you do that? Definitely not with toothpaste or mouthwash. Never! Toothpaste is for your teeth (and maybe the taps and tiles) but not for the invisaligners.
Here’s how to clean the aligners:

Soak them in antibacterial soap water or warm water
Use denture cleaner for best results
Get a soft-bristled toothbrush or a soft cloth
Gently rub on the outer and inner surface
Wash, rinse, and dry

What not to do:

Don’t use hot water to soak the trays
Don’t use a rough toothbrush
Don’t expose the aligners to direct heat/ cold

5. Cover the Invisaligners When Not in Use

We asked you to remove the aligners when eating or drinking. That’s easy enough. But where will you place them? How do you care for the trays when not in use? Mistakes could lead to unnecessary complications. They might even slow down and reverse the progress.

Don’t leave the trays out in the open
Don’t place them on a tissue paper or table
Don’t wrap them in handkerchiefs or napkins
Use a hard case to store the invisaligners when not in use
Don’t use the aligners directly after leaving them outside
Wash with water and wipe with a soft cloth before reusing
Carry a spare tray when traveling

6. Don’t Ignore Post-Treatment Care

Your dentist will determine when the treatment is complete. However, that’s not the end of the story. You’ve still got to follow post-treatment care recommended by the dentist. Viveras are retainers made of thicker material than aligners.
Dentists recommend wearing retainers for around six months afterwards to support your newly aligned teeth and make them strong. Naturally, the retainers will wear down over time, and you’ll have to get a new pair made again. You can also go for metal retainers, though remember that metal retainers can shift the alignment.

The last aligner tray is not a retainer.
Retainers are compulsory to prevent your teeth from returning to the previous alignment.
Wear retainers all of the time during the first three months (as the dentist prescribes).

Conclusion

Invisaligners can hurt as the ends press into the gums. If you experience too much discomfort or pain, get the aligners checked by the dentist for minor corrections. Bite down a few times to get used to wearing the aligners and allow blood flow. Ask the doctor to prescribe orthodontic chewies to help you get used to the aligners.

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