Most people like the idea of wearing Invisalign because of how discreet they are. Others like this option because they are removable. Still, many patients come to the office attracted only by those perks and forget there’s still a lot to do to have a successful treatment with Invisalign.

More than one patient has come into our office and asked, “What can I do to help my teeth when wearing Invisalign?”

While everyone’s teeth and dental needs are different, there are certain things everyone can do to make wearing their Invisalign aligners a more rewarding experience. Always follow the list of instructions and tips from Drs. Markham and Scott, and add the following advice to your daily routine if you want to survive your first few weeks with your new aligners.

Invisalign Tips and Tricks

Let’s review a couple of tips you should keep in mind for your first few weeks of treatment and all the months that follow.

Please remember that your treatment may last for several months, and your success will largely depend on your habits.

Aren’t They Removable?

Yes. But these aligners are not removable in that you can take them off and forget about the appliance for hours at a time.

According to the official Invisalign FAQ, every patient should wear theirs anywhere between 20 and 22 hours per day. We’re not mathematicians here, but that means most of the day. And we mean it.

You should only take off your aligner trays when you eat or drink anything that could stain the aligners. Some fellow orthodontists even recommend you chew with them on, but we’ll leave that discussion for your next visit to our practice.

Follow the 48-hour rule when wearing your aligners. When you insert every new set of aligners, you should leave them in as much as possible during the first 48 hours. Your teeth will move more during this timeframe.

Keep It Clean

And so we return to the mighty subject of dental hygiene.

We will not stop mentioning this because some patients seem to magically forget about their toothbrushes as soon as we install a new appliance. Thankfully, this is not always the case with patients wearing Invisalign clear aligners.

Because the trays are removable, you can take them off to clean your teeth as usual. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride and brush your teeth for at least two minutes being careful not to press too hard onto each tooth.

Brush your teeth after every meal, even after your snacks.

Continue flossing every day. You should be flossing in any case. But it can be easy to assume that Invisalign will protect your teeth from bacteria. This is not true. Bacteria can get behind the aligners and affect the health of your teeth and gums, so keep up with your flossing schedule.

Rinse them only with water. Some people use other formulations to clean their aligners. In reality, denture cleaners, alcohol-containing mouthwash, and toothpaste can all damage your Invisalign trays.

Always ask us about teeth whitening. Our team at Markham Orthodontics knows how important it is for you to keep your teeth white and stain-free from the foods and drinks you consume daily. If you have attachments to your teeth, they will not whiten properly. Ask our office about teeth whitening when wearing your aligners; it might be best to wait until your treatment is complete.

Hope for the Best, Prepare for The…

You may experience slight discomfort while wearing your Invisalign aligners. You can take a pain reliever to help with the discomfort, but if you experience too much pain, please give us a call.

All patients should expect some level of discomfort. After all, your appliance is literally pushing away bone structures protruding from your gum line. Still, we make sure that we plan your treatment to avoid as much discomfort as possible.

Some over-the-counter painkillers should do the trick, but never be afraid to contact your orthodontist if the painful sensation is too much to manage.

Get in Touch With Us

The team at Markham Orthodontics is waiting for you at our convenient Natomas, Gold River, or Auburn, CA offices. Start your journey to a healthy and beautiful smile by scheduling an appointment right here.