When preparing to get Invisalign, there are definitely certain things of which you should be aware beforehand. First of all, there are small attachments that you might need placed on the surface of your teeth in order to achieve your desired smile. In cases where extra strength Is necessary to move your teeth, you may need one or two attachments. Attachments are small enamel colored ridges on your teeth that allow the aligner to click in place. This will help the aligners move your teeth more effectively especially when teeth need to move vertically for proper alignment.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you must wear the aligners 20-22 hours out of the day. This means that all of your eating and drinking for the day must occur within that 2-4-hour period. You will have to get used to carrying around an aligner case with you at all times so that you can safely store your aligners when eating or brushing. You will also have to brush your teeth before putting the aligners back in your mouth or at the very least you should chew a piece of sugar-free gum and rinse with fresh water.
The short amount of time you have to eat each day may cause you to lose weight. This is because removing your aligners to eat snacks throughout the day will seem like too much of a bother. You will most likely limit the time you spend eating which will decrease how much food you actually consume. If you do not want to lose weight, pack your meals with calories and protein or be prepared for more frequent cleaning of your teeth. If you do, however, then take advantage.
Lipsticks, lip liners and lip glosses must be applied more carefully when wearing aligners. The color almost inevitably sticks to aligners and attachments. This will leave a waxy film on the aligners. Lip gloss and lip balm will not affect the aligners quite as bad but will still leave a film. Having lipstick on the aligners will stain them, which will make them more noticeable. You might also want to be extra careful when removing your aligners when it comes to nail polish as you may possibly scratch your nails if done incorrectly.
Brushing your teeth will happen a lot more than usual. You will have to be extra diligent about removing food particles and plaque so that they do not collect underneath your aligners. In addition to the normally scheduled brushing of your teeth (when you wake up and before bed), you will also want to clean your teeth after each meal/snack/drink to make sure that you are not leaving food or drink particles under your aligners. Flossing is also vital to oral hygiene, especially with aligners in the equation. Stains happen easily, so you have to be extra careful when drinking colored liquids. You should not drink anything besides water when the aligners are in your mouth. If you do not brush your teeth well after drinking coffee or soda, the aligners can become tinted or less clear. The good side to this is that your aligners will be changed every 10-14 days so if you do accidentally stain an aligner you will not have to wear it for a very long time.
If you are interested in getting Invisalign, please contact us for more information about how Miami Lakes Orthodontics can help you.
