Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

What It's Like To Wear And Care For Invisalign Braces

26 April 2016 by Charlotte Beck

If you are self conscious about getting traditional braces to correct your crooked teeth, Invisalign may be the solution to your problem. This orthodontic method uses a series of translucent trays that will gradually change the shape of your smile over time. Before you decide to get Invisalign braces, you may be wondering what it is like to live with them every day. Here are some key things you need to know to make an informed decision about if Invisalign is right for you.

Daily Wear Requirements

The great thing about Invisalign is that you can take them out when you need to. It's recommended to keep them in for about 20-22 hours every single day. This gives you the luxury to take out the trays for eating, oral hygiene, public speaking, or any other situation that may require it.

Oral Hygiene

Since the trays can be removed, there should not be any alteration to how you take care of your oral hygiene. Remove the tray so you can brush and floss twice a day, all without worrying about working around brackets like you would with traditional braces.

Eating

You also do not have to worry about the foods that you eat because of the removable trays. Traditional braces bring problems with food getting caught in the brackets, which you won't have to deal with. You should still avoid chewing gum though. It puts pressure on your teeth, and reduces saliva that helps for good oral hygiene.

Cleaning Procedures

You'll need to rinse off the Invisalign trays every single day using warm water. There is no need to brush or scrub the aligners like you would need to do with your teeth. Remember, the trays are replaced every couple of weeks, so you'll be throwing the tray out and moving onto the next one before you know it, which is before any potential discoloration of the trays can occur.

Regular Orthodontist Visits

Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign brackets do not need to be adjusted manually over the course of the treatment. That said, you still need to make regular visits to your orthodontist. They will see how the process is going by looking at the movement of your teeth. It's possible that they may make alterations to Invisalign trays if the process is not going as originally planned.

If Invisalign is starting to sound good, reach out to a dental clinic, such as the Port Orchard Dental Care Center. They can look at your teeth and recommend if you would be a good candidate for the procedure.   

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