Invisalign is a highly effective orthodontic treatment that has helped more than 7 million patients worldwide improve their smiles without many of the inconveniences of traditional braces. At Cliftonville, we have a dedicated Invisalign specialist so you can be sure you’ll receive the best possible results – as long as you follow your treatment plan! Here’s how to get the most out of your Invisalign treatment.
Commit to wearing your aligners as prescribed
One of the advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable – however, you need to resist the temptation of removing them for too long. For treatment to be effective (and to minimise your treatment time), you’ll need to wear the aligners for 20-22 hours each day, taking them out only to eat or drink. The first 48 hours after you receive a new set of aligners is particularly important, so make sure you wear them as much as possible during this time.
Step up your oral hygiene routine
Thoroughly brushing your teeth after meals and flossing at least once a day is vital during Invisalign treatment because any food particles left between your teeth will be trapped in place by the aligners. Saliva usually helps clean the mouth throughout the day, but this isn’t possible while you’re wearing your aligners, so it’s essential to maintain good oral hygiene. Taking a travel-sized toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste with you everywhere you go can come in handy during treatment.
Look after your aligners
One of the biggest advantages of Invisalign is its discreet nature – as the name suggests, the aligners are almost invisible when they’re in place and many people won’t even notice you’re wearing them. To keep them this way, it’s important to treat them with care – drinking anything other than water while wearing the trays (especially tea, coffee, or red wine) can stain them, which will make them more visible. Try to avoid using toothpaste to clean the trays, as it can be abrasive and may cause discolouration. Instead, rinse them with warm water every night and brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You can also soak them overnight using cleaning crystals or a denture cleaner.
Motivate yourself with photo updates
Orthodontic treatment can sometimes seem like a long and frustrating process, but the end results are always worth the effort. Taking regular selfies throughout your treatment can help you see how far you’ve come and keep you on track to achieving your perfect smile.
Use retainers after treatment
Once you have your beautiful new smile, you’ll want to keep it that way – the last thing you want is for your teeth to start shifting back into their original position, undoing all your hard work! Wearing a nightly retainer is the best way to keep your teeth in place following treatment. We’ll provide you with a removable retainer to wear each night so you can maintain your sparkling new smile.
Interested in learning more about Invisalign at Cliftonville? Book your free orthodontic consultation today.