It almost seems too good to be true — you can have your teeth straightened with practically invisible aligners, which can be removed when you want to eat, brush, and floss completely naturally. No need for a “metal mouth.” Better yet, there are many tips for getting the best possible results. Here are seven tips.
Clean While Eating
One of the biggest advantages of Invisalign near you is that you can remove your aligners to eat completely normally. But every minute you are not wearing your aligners is when your teeth aren’t being moved. Our dentist in Edmonton will recommend wearing your aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily to accomplish your treatment plan. Since you’re not wearing your aligners at a premium, you should take advantage of it. One way to do that is by cleaning your aligners while you eat. The easiest way is to soak your aligners in diluted — but not coloured — mouthwash.
Use Timers To Stay On Track
It’s essential not to go overboard when you take your aligners out. Every minute they’re out of your mouth is a minute your treatment plan is not being completed. Keep track of your two to four hours daily when our dentist in Edmonton says keeping your aligners out is okay. One way to keep track and yourself on track is to set a timer on your phone every time you take your aligners out. This way, you won’t be tempted or permitted to forget to put them back on your teeth.
Whiten Your Teeth As You Straighten Them
Every time you take your aligners out, you should brush your teeth before you put your cleaned aligners back. This will ensure food particles and bacteria aren’t trapped between your aligners and teeth. If whitening your teeth is also a goal, use a whitening toothpaste. The aligners used by Invisalign near you may hold the whitening agents in that toothpaste against your teeth longer rather than letting them get washed away by saliva.
Make a Small Investment in a Small Travel Kit
During your treatment plan, you’ll brush your teeth much more often than usual — every time you take your aligners out of your mouth, no matter where you are. Since you may eat away from home and take your aligners out of your mouth away from home, set yourself up with a travel kit containing a toothbrush, some toothpaste, and some floss, so you can tend to your teeth no matter where you remove your aligners.
Add a Nail Buffer to that Travel Kit
Careful as Invisalign is when creating your aligners, you may occasionally experience irritation or poking sensation along the edges of an aligner. A quick way to solve these minor irritations is to use a nail buffer to smoothen any sharp edges on the aligner. Don’t make major alterations, though. If problems persist, discuss them with our dentist.
Timing Your Switch to a New Aligner
During your treatment plan, you’ll transition from one aligner to the next every couple of weeks. You’ll make those switches according to a predetermined schedule, but the time you make the switch is up to you. Our dentist in Edmonton will recommend switching to a new aligner just before bed. The hours while you sleep will give the aligners a long stretch of uninterrupted time to start working.
Do You have Your Case?
Every time you leave the house, take your Invisalign case with you. Without a case to put your aligners into when you take them out at a bar or restaurant or anywhere else, you may be tempted to wrap them in a napkin, place them on a table, or even toss them into a purse or backpack. All those options are crummy ones. You risk having them swept away by a waiter, knocked onto the floor, lost or stolen, or even damaged in the bottom of a bag. Instead, use your Invisalign case to keep your aligners safe and secure.
We want you to experience all the benefits of your treatment plan for Invisalign in Edmonton. If you have questions about maximizing the benefits while minimizing the length of your treatment plan, contact our dentist near you to review your progress and get answers to all your questions.