Think you would feel self-conscious of metal braces? Unlike other types of orthodontic treatment, Invisalign®️are nearly invisible aligners you wear over your teeth.
Since Invisalign is removable, you’re able to continue eating your favorite foods and maintain your oral hygiene routine. To learn how to care for your Invisalign teeth aligners, continue reading.
To learn more about how to straighten teeth without braces, call (616) 458-7267 to request a consultation with one of our Invisalign dentists.
Caring for Invisalign Aligners
Brush and Floss after Meals
Brush and floss your teeth after eating to avoid staining your clear aligners. While this may seem like an inconvenience, it’s better than allowing your aligners to get yellow and smelly. Food particles left behind in your aligners will give you bad breath and the incentive to take better care of your smile during orthodontic treatment.
Avoid Staining Drinks
Certain drinks like coffee and red wine will stain clear aligners, not to mention your teeth. If you can’t survive without your morning cup of coffee, we recommend removing your aligners before drinking. Once you’re done drinking coffee, brush your teeth to avoid staining your aligners. While this may seem extreme, it’s important that you keep your aligners clean and free of bacteria.
Many of our patients appreciate that Invisalign is subtle enough to go unnoticed by family members, friends, and co-workers. However, there’s no point in wearing Invisalign if you let them get yellow over time. Our Invisalign dentists can give you more tips for how to adopt a healthy oral hygiene routine during clear aligner treatment.
Store Clear Aligners in Their Case
When your aligners aren’t in your mouth, they should be resting in the case your dentist gave you. When you take out your teeth aligners to eat, make sure that you place the aligners in their special case and not in a napkin.
Too many patients have accidently thrown out their aligners because they were wrapped in napkins or sitting on lunch trays. Don’t let this be you. No one wants to dig through a public trash can because they threw out their Invisalign braces.
Clear aligners are custom-made to fit the contours of your teeth and gums. However, you could risk crushing or bending your aligners out of shape if you store them in your pocket, purse, or anywhere else besides their case.
Wear Your Aligners
One of the safest places for your aligners is in your mouth. In order for Invisalign to work, you need to wear your clear aligners 20 to 22 hours per day. You should only remove your clear aligners when you need to eat or brush your teeth. Otherwise, your teeth won’t move according to schedule.
When you get a new set of aligners from your dentist, you’ll feel pressure on your teeth for the first few days. This pressure is a sign that the aligners are moving your teeth into optimal alignment. For the pain, we recommend taking over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Motrin.
Dr. Nick Ritzema DDS and Dr. Alexandra Maring DDS offer Invisalign as a teeth straightening alternative to metal braces. To schedule your consultation with one of our Invisalign dentists in Grand Rapids MI, call Complete Health Dentistry at (616) 458-7267.
