At the start of your Invisalign treatment, your orthodontist will provide you with a timeline estimate and share the number of trays you’ll work through in the coming months. However, those two factors aren’t set in stone. In fact, there are several circumstances that can derail your original treatment plan, requiring more time and money than you originally anticipated. Don’t worry – there are a few best practices you can implement to get you back on track!
#1. Make Sure Your Aligners Fit Snugly
Invisalign “halos” refer to the gap between your teeth and your aligners. In short, this is a sign that your trays are not in the correct position and, therefore, not able to move your teeth as needed. To prevent this from happening, you should bite down on your Invisalign “chewies” each time you put the aligners back in your mouth. This will help them “seat” onto your teeth properly.
#2. Wear Your Aligners for 22 Hours a Day
Since traditional braces aren’t removable, they constantly apply the pressure needed to shift teeth into their properly aligned positions. Invisalign, on the other hand, only works to move your teeth when the trays are in. Therefore, you should keep the amount of time they are out of your mouth to a minimum. 22 hours a day is the recommended wear time, meaning you should only take them out to eat, drink anything other than water, and complete your oral hygiene regimen.
#3. Brush and Floss After Each Meal
Brushing and flossing after each meal is important for several reasons. To start, this will remove food particles, plaque, and other debris from your teeth throughout the day, decreasing your chances of tooth decay. Secondly, keeping your mouth clean will in turn help keep your aligners clean. After all, wearing your aligners for the recommended amount of time is hard to do if they are stained and smelly.
#4. Prioritize Your Check-in Appointments
Throughout your treatment with Invisalign, you will have periodic check-ins with your orthodontist. Even if you have your next trays, don’t skip these visits! These appointments provide your orthodontist with the valuable opportunity to monitor how your teeth are moving and make adjustments as needed.
#5. Store Your Aligners Properly
One of the most common reasons patients fall off-track with their original treatment plan is because they misplace their aligners. The good news is that there are a few ways you can prevent this from happening to you. First, never place your aligners in a napkin or on the counter unprotected. Next, place them in their case anytime they aren’t in use. Finally, make sure to put them in the same place every single time you remove them, like a designated pocket in your purse.
Even though Invisalign offers clear, hassle-free aligners, you’ll still naturally want to complete treatment sooner rather than later. To ensure you do, make sure to keep the previously mentioned tips in mind!
About the Practice
Our team at Super Braces knows that patients really value two things about Invisalign: the discreet trays and the quicker average treatment timelines. To ensure you don’t have to wear the aligners any longer than you need to, we will do our part to help you stay on track with your treatment. If you have any questions about the Invisalign process or need to schedule an appointment with our team, don’t hesitate to get in touch via our website or by phone at (508) 755-2207.