Tips For New Invisalign Patients

Invisalign provides great flexibility, allowing you to complete your treatment on your own schedule and without interrupting your daily life. If you’re new to the world of Invisalign®, you probably have plenty of questions. 

Here are a few tips that will help you get the best possible results from your treatment.

Brushing and Flossing

Just like with your natural teeth, you’ll need to care for your Invisalign aligners properly. Brushing and flossing regularly will prevent your teeth and gums from developing bacterial buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease.

Food particles can easily become trapped between your teeth and aligners, so it’s important to brush and floss after every meal. You should also brush and floss before you insert your aligners.

Wearing Your Aligners

When you get your Invisalign aligners, you’ll need to wear each one for 20 to 22 hours a day. This means only taking them out to eat, drink, brush, and floss.

Even though Invisalign aligners are removable, they should only be taken out to eat, drink, brush, and floss. Leaving them in while you eat, drink, or brush could put the trays at risk for damage.

Avoiding Certain Foods

Invisalign is removable, and that makes it easy to use. However, it’s extremely important that you wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day. Sports drinks, soda, or sugary foods can seriously damage your aligners.

Visiting Your Dentist Regularly

To ensure that your treatment moves along without a hitch, it’s critical that you adhere to your treatment timeline. If you fail to visit your dentist at the recommended intervals, your treatment may not progress correctly.

If you have a busy schedule, it’s helpful to schedule your visits during lunch breaks or before or after work. Your dentist may also be able to work around your schedule by scheduling longer appointments if necessary.

Cleaning Your Aligner Trays

Be sure to brush your aligners every time you take them out of your mouth. Use a soft toothbrush or a special aligner cleaning brush. Toothpaste isn’t recommended because it can scratch the plastic surface of Invisalign aligners.

Tanega Dental, located in South San Francisco, CA, is equipped with the best dentists and the latest technologies. Call us at (650) 794-0203 and schedule an appointment with our family dentist.