Invisalign has been around for a few years, but it wasn’t until recently that it’s become much more popular for teens and adults. Some patients are apprehensive to wear Invisalign because they’re afraid the treatment will be complicated or require a significant amount of responsibility. To ease your mind, here are five tips for improving your life while wearing Invisalign, the worry-free way to straighten your teeth.
- 1. Be patient with it.
It is important to be aware that you may have trouble speaking at first. You may also speak with a lisp. Just remember that getting used to them will take time, and you will eventually learn to speak clearly.
- 2. Brush, floss, and clean.
After every meal, you will need to brush your teeth, floss, and clean your aligners. If you skip this step after eating, you could experience problems, such as food getting caught between your teeth and your aligners. Your aligners themselves could also begin harboring dangerous bacteria that could cause oral issues somewhere down the line.
- Eat healthfully.
Some people start to snack less while wearing Invisalign aligners because they don’t want to have to go through the whole process of cleaning their aligners and brushing their teeth after every little snack. This can often lead to weight loss, so look for this little known side effect and make sure you are taking care of yourself.
- Wear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day.
That’s right. You can’t just wear your aligners when it’s easy or as an afterthought. The only way you’ll see real results is if you wear Invisalign at least 20 to 22 hours a day, only taking them out for meals. If you do this, you’ll be wearing Invisalign about the same amount of time you would be wearing braces.
- Use a retainer.
After you finish with Invisalign, you will still need to wear a retainer, just like you would if you had chosen regular braces. Retainers are essential to keeping your teeth straight following treatment. Wearing your retainer can also lead to longer-lasting results. Without it, your teeth won’t hold the shape your Invisalign aligners worked so hard to achieve, so make sure you use your retainer(s) as necessary.
Contact Dr. Nikaeen for a Free Consultation
Invisalign aligners are an attractive and effective way to straighten your teeth. For more information on how you can use this alternative to metal braces, contact Dr. Nikaeen, an orthodontist in Beverly Hills, CA. Contact her at 310-444-1113 now for a complimentary consultation.
