You finally got your Invisalign aligners. Don’t you feel closer to the perfect, healthy smile you always dreamt of? Here is where it’s important to recognize how important your aligners are.
Firstly, if you aren’t familiar with Invisalign, it is a process that straightens your teeth and facilitates long-term tooth health. You can ask your dentist about Invisalign in North Naples to protect your smile.
What does Invisalign entail?
Making lifestyle changes, including the following recommendations, ensures a successful treatment and should make sure you reap the full benefits of your aligners. The tips below answer some of the questions you may have.
How to wear my aligners?
For Invisalign to work, you should wear them at least 22 hours daily in a 14-day straight time interval. Therefore, you will only remove them for eating, brushing, and flossing your teeth.
However, if, for some reason, you can’t wear the aligners full-time each day, add the amount of time missing at the end of the interval. Remember, if you wear them only partially, you will only get half the job done.
How to put on the aligners?
After cleaning your mouth, start putting on the top aligner. Place it over your teeth and gently push it until it fits into place. Repeat for the lower one. Then, apply a slight pressure with your fingers until there’s no gap between the retainer and the teeth.
You can gently press your jaws together but don’t do it quickly or too tight because you could hurt your gums or damage the aligners. If it feels uncomfortable, visit a dental clinic near you and ask for an adjustment. Ensure you have the right aligners you need every week, as they are all clearly labeled.
How to remove the aligners?
To remove them, always start from the back using your fingers and then slowly advance to the front until it’s completely out. Never use sharp objects such as toothpicks or scissors to do this.
Try to vary the spot where you start to remove them each time. Only remove them when you need to eat or clean your mouth.
How to keep them clean?
There are no special rules added to normal hygiene while you wear aligners. Usual recommendations like brushing, flossing, and rinsing your teeth after eating and before going to bed apply.
An easy way to do this outside your home is to have chewing gum or mouthwash. Just as your whole mouth needs cleaning, your retainers also need cleaning. The best way to do this is with a Q-tip soaked in a mild liquid soap (not toothpaste) and rinse them thoroughly afterward.
Avoid exposing your aligners to extreme temperatures, which can affect their fit. Therefore, sterilizing them with boiling water is a bad idea.
A few more tips
Store them in their protective case when you need to eat or clean them. Remember to take the case everywhere you go. Don’t just throw away your previous set of aligners. Keep them handy if you lose your current ones, and use them while you wait for the new set to be ready to prevent treatment failure.
When you start treatment with Invisalign after visiting your dentist in North Naples, you get a starter kit containing everything you need for cleaning and conserving your retainers. It includes fluoride to prevent teeth decalcification. Always safely store this kit and your aligners away from children, pets, or any other possible harm.
If you have any questions, consult your dentist about Invisalign near you.