Invisalign treatments are a dependable and effective method for straightening your smile and are often the preferable choice over braces. With clear plastic molded mouthpieces fit tightly to your teeth, Invisalign is designed to be worn throughout the day and evening and removed only for meals and dental maintenance.
Sounds pretty simple, just stick the Invisalign trays in your mouth and forget about them. But there are plenty of ways to make the process much more complex than it needs to be, as patients don’t follow their dentists’ instructions and fail to take all of the necessary precautions to ensure that the Invisalign treatment is a complete success.
But you don’t need to fall into this trap, as long as you heed these warnings to prevent from sabotaging your Invisalign treatment and prolonging the process far longer than necessary.
Wear the Trays
You can’t get the benefit of your Invisalign treatments if you aren’t placing the trays on your teeth. Furthermore, the longer you keep them on your teeth, the more effective they can be in straightening them. Your dentist will likely recommend you leave them in at all times, except when you eat or drink. Wear them all the time and you’ll be on to the next steps of your treatment before you know it.
Keep in mind, every treatment is different. The time you need to wear the trays may be longer or shorter than someone else, but if you don’t keep them in your mouth throughout the day and the evening, it will definitely be longer. Some patients may only need a few different trays while others could require 10 or 11 by the time their treatments are finished. If your teeth require many sizes, it’s better you wear them so you can receive the next size as fast as possible.
Discomfort and Irritation
Some patients experience mild discomfort when they first wear the Invisalign trays. This is normal and it subsides in time, but only if you continue to wear the trays and give yourself time to get used to having them in your mouth. Too many patients remove the trays or wear them for brief periods of time, rendering them mostly useless for performing their intended purpose.
Be sure to continue wearing the Invisalign trays despite the mild irritation you may be feeling, the only way to overcome that problem is to allow your mouth to acclimate to wearing them for extended periods. If the discomfort turns to pain, consult your dentist.
Brush and Floss After Every Meal
You will be instructed to remove your trays when you eat and drink. Just be sure to brush and floss your teeth before putting them back into your mouth, otherwise bacteria and germs from food particles can build up on your teeth and inside the trays. This can lead to infection, gum disease, and other dental conditions that could put the health of your mouth at risk.
