Things to know before you get Invisalign
Have you ever felt slightly envious when you’ve seen a celebrity or a colleague crack a smile and appear a perfectly straight-set of white teeth?
Bad teeth, whether crooked or gapped have the power to hugely affect our confidence and can impact things like speech and oral health.
“Just 35% of adults have aligned teeth” – Visualistan
Even those who have metal train track braces fitted and are on their way to straighten teeth can feel somewhat miserable.
This is because the process for traditional braces can be long, uncomfortable and have certain stigmas attached, which make fixed braces a turn off for adults as many opt for crooked teeth over surgery and braces.
That was until new modern advances in orthodontic treatments.
Invisalign is an alternative braces treatment that corrects bite issues and straightens teeth faster and more discreetly.
The process uses clear custom-made aligners that are made from plastic, which are much less noticeable than normal fixed braces.
So, if you’re considering transforming your smile here is everything you need to know about Invisalign before you take the plunge…
1. Expect many aligners and attachments
Over the course of your treatment, you will have different aligners as your teeth move, which you will need to swap out every week or every other week – depending on your individual treatment plan.
2. You need to wear them all-day
For your teeth to straighten fast you will need to wear your Invisalign aligners for at most 22 hours a day.
You will only need to take them out for eating and drinking hot drinks.
Wearing them whilst you sleep is the most effective as they can do their job undisturbed through the night.
3. They can keep you from snacking
Once you start wearing your Invisalign aligners it is most likely that you will not want to keep taking them out every time you want a snack.
They are easy to remove but can be quite annoying if you want to take them out 20+ times a day.
They are a good tool to keep you from inadvertently snacking throughout the day.
4. Kissing with Invisalign
There are a lot of questions online around taking your aligners out to kiss.
You won’t see the aligners unless you are really close and because they are designed to fit closely to your teeth they, in theory, should not affect kissing.
Read: Can you see Invisalign aligners?
5. Brush your teeth more
It’s recommended to brush your teeth after every meal when wearing your aligners.
This is because when your teeth are moving it will be easier for food and plaque to can get in the way, which then further can affect the smell of your breath.
6. Be careful with coffee
Just like with your normal teeth, things like coffee, tea, red wine and even white wine stain.
In order to keep your Invisalign clear and discreet, it’s best to avoid these things when wearing them.
You can prevent your aligners from staining if you brush your teeth straight after such items.
7. Take out aligners for hot drinks
Whilst wearing Invisalign you can only drink cold drinks – if you want to drink hot drinks you will need to remove them.
Bear in mind that sugary drinks can also lead to more plaque.
With any product, there will be disadvantages. But as we’ve seen with patient after patient these sacrifices are forgotten quickly. Read reviews.
This is because Invisalign aligners can straighten teeth within a year and can do so discreetly. Not only this, but they cost around the same price as fixed braces.
It is these advantages of Invisalign that make it worthwhile and encourage our patients to choose this course of treatment.
