Are you currently in the process of researching Invisalign? Maybe you’ve already started your clear aligner treatment and need a refresher on what you should and shouldn’t do to stay on-track with your treatment plan. Either way, you can read on to learn a few important do’s and don’ts of Invisalign!
DO: Wear Your Aligners for 22+ Hours a Day
Simply put, if you don’t wear your aligners, they won’t work. That’s why patients are encouraged to wear theirs for 22 hours a day, only taking them out to brush their teeth, drink anything other than water, and enjoy their breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you aren’t sure if you’re meeting this goal, start the stopwatch app in your phone every time you remove the trays and stop it when you get them back in to track your time without your aligners during the day.
DON’T: Keep Your Aligners in While Drinking Coffee
The last thing you want is for your clear aligners to turn yellow, your aligners to melt or deform or your teeth to develop cavities, right? These are some of the many reasons why you shouldn’t drink coffee with your aligners in! In fact, you should take them out before drinking anything other than water, including wine, soda, and juice.
DO: Clean Your Trays After Each Meal
To prevent food particles, plaque, and bacteria from clinging to your aligners, you need to clean your aligners and your teeth after each meal. Fortunately, this is pretty easy. Just use a soft-bristled toothbrush and some clean water to gently scrub each surface. Then, rinse them off thoroughly and put them back in your mouth.
DON’T: Use Hot Water with Your Aligners
Whether you’re soaking your aligners in a cleaning solution or simply rinsing them off after taking them out of your mouth, you should not use hot water. That’s because the high temperature can cause them to warp, rendering them virtually useless. Instead, use cool or room-temperature water.
DO: Switch Your Trays on the Correct Days
While some patients change trays every seven days, others switch every 10 or 14 days. Whatever the case is for you, make sure to stick to it! Switching too early or too late can result in unwanted treatment plan delays.
DON’T: Skip Your Check-In Visits
Although you won’t need to visit your orthodontist for adjustment appointments, you will need to visit them for routine check-in visits. Each one is important because it allows them to take evaluate the fit of your current trays and see how they are tracking. If they aren’t moving as anticipated for any reason, they can make adjustments quickly, hopefully preventing delays in the process.
About the Practice
We have an exceptional orthodontist leading our team at Grayslake Orthodontics, Dr. Ben Youel. He loves using everything he has learned to help patients in and around Grayslake achieve the confident smiles they’ve always wanted. Plus, he dedicates his time outside the office to continuing education and serves as a volunteer leader with the American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society. If you have a question for Dr. Youel about Invisalign, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment via our website or by phone at (847) 548-4330.
