The do's and don'ts of Invisalign® treatment
Dr. Guan, American Board Certified Orthodontist
The Do's and Don'ts Of Invisalign® Treatment
December 10, 2020
As easy and stress free as an Invisalign® treatment may be, it is still always important to listen to your Orthodontist. There are still some important Do’s and Don’ts for Invisalign® treatment that will help make your experience even more smooth and comfortable. In this article we will be sharing Dr. Guans best tips to keep you smiling along the way.
Do Clean Your Invisalign® Aligners Daily
It’s very important to keep your aligners clean, and in order to do so its necessary to clean your trays daily. Bacteria and Food can build up in your trays if left uncleaned which can lead to discoloring and bad odors. Remember, one of the best features of Invisalign® is it’s “invisible” look. So keep your trays clean and clear.
An easy at home way to clean your Invisalign® is by leaving them to soak in a mixture of half water and half vinegar. This brings us to our next tip…
Don't Clean Your Invisalign® With..
- Tooth Paste – It can damage your aligners!
- Hot Water – Make sure any liquids you use to clean your aligners are no hotter than lukewarm.
- Mouth Wash – Like tooth paste, it can damage your aligners.
- Colored Soaps – It can discolor those beautiful, clear, aligners.
Do Maintain Your Typical Oral Routines
Be sure to stick to you normal morning, bedtime, and post-meal oral hygiene routines. One of the best perks of Invisalign is the ability we have to take our aligners off. It’s extremely important to make sure your teeth are fully clean before you put your aligners back on. This is because you don’t want any food left in your mouth to be stuck under your trays all day.
Don't Forget To Wear Your Invisalign®
Sometimes you can forget you’re even wearing Invisalign®, but make sure you never forget to wear your Invisalign®. The goal is to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day. Missing a day or even hours could lead to a longer treatment period.
Do Eat Whatever You Want
With your aligners taken off of course, you can eat whatever you want. Unlike the food restrictions that come with Traditional Metal Braces, Invisalign® treatment allows you to continue enjoying whatever foods you desire.
Don't Chew Gum While Wearing Invisalign®
Chewing gum while wearing your aligners can cause damage to your aligners from the sugars in gum. Be sure to always take your aligners out when chewing gum and also try to limit the amount of gum you chew a day because chewing to much may cut into the 22 hours a day that you need to be wearing your aligners.