Invisalign offers a great alternative to metal braces. An aligner that is clear and simple is applied to your teeth instead of using wires or brackets to cover your teeth. While it may sound simple, there are many myths and errors that could hinder your success with Invisalign. At the office of your local orthodontist in Tarzana, we want to help our patients understand the dos and don’ts of this important procedure before moving forward. So let’s look at the top Invisalign mistakes to avoid.
Invisalign Mistakes to Avoid
Candidates for Invisalign should be able to understand how to maintain them. Invisalign can be difficult to wear if not all proper instructions and followed. You should put down the soft drinks and hard candy for a while, and learn what you can do throughout the duration of your Invisalign treatment. Read the following Invisalign mistakes to avoid and get in touch with us to learn how to improve your teeth the right way!
Smoking with your Aligners
Your body’s ability to fight infection can be affected by smoking. Your body may also find it harder to fight a gum infection, such as gingivitis. Smoking will make it harder for your gums and teeth to heal after you have sustained this damage. Your risk of developing gum disease increases the longer you smoke. The treatments for gum disease aren’t as effective on smokers and can make it more difficult for the effects of Invisalign to take hold.
Cleaning Your Trays with Toothpaste
It’s important to clean your aligners frequently, but you do not want toothpaste to be the product you use to clean them with. Toothpaste can cause discoloration of your aligners. Invisalign’s hidden benefits allow you to wear them discreetly. However, the discoloration can make them obvious and you will want to wear them less.
Instead, choose an unscented soap without color dyes. That way, you avoid staining your aligners to an unsightly color that will leave you feeling less than satisfied with your dental treatment.
Leaving Your Aligners Out in the Open
Wearing your aligners daily is the best way to enjoy Invisalign’s benefits. Many people make the error of taking out their aligners more often than is necessary.
When you eat, drink, or brush your teeth, it is important that your aligners are removed. Your aligners should be kept on after that. If you don’t wear them, they won’t be able to straighten your teeth. Your Invisalign aligners should be worn between 20 and 22 hours per day. You could delay your treatment if you don’t wear your aligners.
Eating Hard Foods and Drinking Sugary Drinks
The removable nature of the aligners means that you can eat whatever you like while undergoing treatment. To eat or drink, your aligners will need to be removed. You don’t have to limit your food and snack choices if you are undergoing this kind of cutting-edge treatment. Your diet will be much more limited if you have braces with wires or brackets. To maintain a healthy oral status, it is essential that you take steps to prevent tooth decay, brush your teeth after every meal and wash up before re-inserting the aligners.
Forgetting to Clean Your Aligners
Invisalign patients make the biggest mistake of not cleaning their aligners on a regular basis. If your aligners don’t get cleaned regularly, you could develop problems with your oral health. A discoloration and unpleasant odor could be a sign of discoloration.
You should not allow bacteria to spread. Instead, make it a habit of cleaning your aligners daily. Even while you sleep, bacteria can build up on your tray. You can get a fresh start by brushing your teeth and cleaning your aligners before you go to bed at night.
Experience Invisalign the Right Way with Smile Specialists!
Looking to straighten your teeth while still having the flexibility and freedom to eat whatever you want? If you aren’t interested in being bogged down by metal aligners, you can invest more into the benefits of Invisalign in Tarzana with our pros today. Get in touch with us and schedule a personal consultation to stay on track with your dental health!