You have probably heard of Invisalign before — the revolutionary teeth straightening technique that is quick, painless and “invisible”. Invisalign came about in 1997, and since then, has gone on to become one of the most popular forms of cosmetic dentistry available. Although Invisalign is known for its quick and painless process, that doesn’t mean it won’t change a few things about your day-to-day. In this article, we explain how to live with Invisalign and prepare for your new smile.
If you are one of the 71% of British adults who say they aren’t confident showing their teeth in photos, then you may have considered cosmetic dentistry and Invisalign. Invisalign works with custom-made aligners that slowly move your teeth into position, and the best thing is that these clear aligners are practically invisible, unlike traditional braces. This means you can get the smile you have always wanted without having to feel self-conscious about unsightly metal “train tracks”. These aligners do take some getting used to, and you will have to make some changes to accommodate this new part of your life.
Remove Aligners before Food
Although ensuring that you wear your Invisalign aligners is key to getting the desired results, it is also important not to eat anything that can cause staining to your aligners. The general rule is that you should always remove your Invisalign aligners before eating, but leave them in to drink, ideally only drinking water.
If you fail to remember to remove your aligner, then your aligner can become stained. This means that your “invisible” aligner becomes visible, which somewhat defeats the point of what makes Invisalign so good.
Monitor Your Daily Usage
Invisalign is no part-time commitment. If you want to get the results that you are looking for, then you have to commit to wearing your Invisalign aligners for 22 hours a day. This basically means that unless you are eating or brushing your teeth, then you should be wearing it.
If you wear your aligners for less than 22 hours a day, you might not see the results you are looking for, or you could face longer treatment times and an increased cost.
Although Invisalign can take some time to get used to, these plastic aligners are generally considered to be very comfortable, which means you will soon get into the swing of things and see the results you are looking for.
Keep Your Aligners Clean
Good dental hygiene has always been important, but now there is more to consider than just your teeth and gums. As well as consistently brushing and flossing after every meal or drink (besides water), you are also going to have to keep your Invisalign aligners clean.
To clean your aligners, you will need to rinse them under lukewarm water before you put them in and after you remove them. You should also brush them gently with a toothbrush occasionally to keep them looking and smelling fresh.
Changes to Your Speech?
One of the best things about Invisalign is these aligners are basically invisible. That means no self-conscious smiles but carefree selfies. However, even though you don’t have to worry about people seeing your clear aligners, you might have to worry about people hearing them. That is because when you first start wearing these clear plastic trays, it can leave you with a minor lisp or alteration to your speech — though this does fade after a few days.
With that being said, you will soon get used to this thing taking up space in your mouth and quickly overcome any changes to your speech or lisps.
The Anticipation Is Real
Like anything new, Invisalign can take some getting used to. For anyone who hasn’t worn a brace before, the first few hours or even days can take some getting used to, and you might have to remind yourself to clean them or remove them before eating, etc. However, it won’t be long before your Invisalign treatment just becomes part of everyday life, and your dream smile starts to appear before your eyes.
