Five tips to get the most out of your Invisalign treatment

6 mins read

Invisalign is considered to be a revolutionary teeth-straightening treatment that gives your smile a complete restoration.The process involves a series of tailor-made aligners, each designed and structured to move your teeth to their right positions. The aligners are removable so a user can eat and brush her teeth with ease.

As an orthodontic cure, Invisalign is a great treatment for both teens and adults.But it entails significant changes to your routine.

Stats and facts

A survey conducted by Harris Poll found out the factors that drove people to make big changes after straightening their teeth.

Harris surveyed 2,000 people in total, aged 18 and above, to understand the impact of straightening one’s teeth on their overall confidence and happiness levels. Mentioned below are some of the key findings of the survey:

  • Around 70 percent of Americans believe that making one single improvement in their appearance would make them more confident.

 

  • The desire to have more confidence (38%) and to work on their health (66%) motivates U.S adults to revamp their physical appearance.

 

  • Ninety-two percent (92%) who wear aligners cite that having straight teeth was important for their confidence levels.

 

  • Nearly 8 out of 10 adults agree that teeth straightening was one of the important treatments they’ve ever done for themselves.

 

  • Seventy-eight percent (78%) adults agree that teeth straightening had given them the confidence to do something that they could have never done before.

It is recommended for aligners to be worn no less than 22 hours daily.Here is a list of some tips to help you get the most out of your Invisalign treatment.

1.Don’t worry about the discomfort

The treatment isn’t entirely without pain. The user should try and resist focusing on the anguish in the first few days.

Much of the pangs are likely to recede after that. Brittany Dixon, in her account written on A Healthy Slice of Life, reports experiencing pain during the initial days of having attachments.

However, with time, the pain subsided, and Dixon got used to having her teeth covered with propitious plastic

2.Stick to cold water only

Cold water is the only drink that won’t affect your teeth [and attachments] during the treatment – as recommended on POPSUGAR. Alternatively, hot beverages will warp those attachments, while plaque can gather too easily if you consume anything too sugary or alcoholic.

For quenching your thirst more conveniently,  you could make it a habit of drinking cold water during those two hours you are allowed to detach the aligners.

3.Take care of your teeth and gums

You are recommended to only remove your aligners while eating and brushing your teeth. When it comes to regular brushing, sticking to the everyday routine should be plausible so long as it includes brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash. If you don’t already, you could also use a tongue scraper.

Also, make sure to keep the aligners clean as well. To do so, simply apply toothpaste to the interior space and brush till it’s free of external deposits. Repeating this on a daily basis should keep your teeth looking fabulous throughout the treatment.

4.The first two days are key

According to experts, during the first 48 hours of treatment, users should keep the attachments in place for as long as possible. Keeping them on for 22 hours is twice as important during the first two days.

5.Practice your speech

While having attachments on your teeth, just popping the words ‘speaking in social situations’ will take a considerable amount of time to get used to. The aligner will affect your speech, causing a slight lisp – barely noticeable by most.

But the more you speak with the liners in, the quicker you’ll adjust to talking naturally.So get out there and practice.

The lisp is likely to go away in a few days or weeks.And if it doesn’t, your aligners may not be a right fit for your teeth. In this case, your dentist needs to be informed.

It’s not that hard

Andrea Leventhal, a writer at People’s Magazine, says sometimes you can get away with wearing your last tray for 12 hours a day but eventually need to move onto a longer-term option.

Invisalign might seem like a lot of work, but it is hard to find a person who isn’t thrilled with their results. It is better than traditional braces and in Leventhal’s case, a thousand times more appealing compared to the major dental work done down the road.