Invisalign can be a fantastic way to address mild to moderate misalignments, but it requires a significant amount of effort and discipline on the part of the patient. By developing the right habits during treatment, you can ensure that your realignment process stays on track so you can enjoy a straighter and more beautiful smile. Here’s a quick look at a few excellent habits to maintain while wearing Invisalign as well as a few practices that can lead to frustrating delays.
What Should I Do During Invisalign Treatment?
A few excellent habits to maintain during Invisalign treatment include:
- Remembering to wear your aligners for at least twenty hours each day.
- Switching to the next set of aligners in your sequence every two weeks or as instructed.
- Only removing your aligners for oral hygiene sessions or when eating or drinking anything but water.
- Cleaning your aligners at least once daily according to your treatment instructions.
- Brushing and flossing thoroughly each time before reinserting your aligners.
- Placing your aligners in a safe, rigid, clean case when not wearing them.
- Rinsing your aligners each time before placing them in your mouth.
- Attending regular checkups with your Invisalign provider.
What Should I Not Do During Invisalign Treatment?
Certain practices can leave your clear aligners vulnerable to damage or prevent them from shifting your teeth into healthier positions. These include:
- Eating or drinking anything but water while wearing your clear aligners. The pressure of chewing can damage the appliances and ruin their ability to move the teeth properly, and food and beverage residue that gets caught between the teeth and the aligners can lead to unsightly stains and nasty oral infections.
- Leaving your aligners out in the open when not wearing them. This makes it easy for them to be lost or damaged.
- Neglecting to clean your aligners properly, which can allow them to develop unsightly stains that make them quite conspicuous.
- Forgetting to brush and floss adequately each time before wearing aligners, which can lead to treatment-delaying dental infections.
Don’t let your Invisalign treatment be delayed or complicated by a few bad habits. Consulting with your dentist can help you understand how to keep your realignment process on track.
About the Practice
Dentistry for Life offers the finest oral healthcare in Lancaster. Led by Drs. Jason Herres and Vincent Votilla, the staff treats each patient with courtesy and respect while maintaining a clean and friendly office environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry as well as Invisalign services. To learn more about how you can keep your Invisalign treatment on track, contact the office online or dial (717) 569-3911.