Many adults have crooked or out-of-place teeth. This could be a cause for concern as it may affect your confidence and cause health problems like gum disease or cavities or worn out teeth down the road. Traditionally, there’s an easy solution to this problem; braces.
The problem is, a lot of grown-ups get self-conscious when wearing braces.
However, there is a clear removable alternative to braces – INVISALIGN is a treatment used to help straighten your teeth, the difference is that it uses clear plastic trays instead of metal brackets. In doing so, it means you don’t look like you’re wearing braces at all. So, you get the benefit of straightening out your teeth without the self-conscious feeling of wearing braces.
If you’re curious to know what going through the Invisalign treatment entails, we recommend you read this article first. Below, we have compiled the top things as shared by the people who have undergone Invisalign treatment :
#1 – KEEP YOUR ALIGNERS IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
The first tip is simple; you need to keep your Invisalign aligners in for as long as possible every day. This is the only way you’ll see results, and the best way to see fast results and to help you get used to them. We suggest you refrain from taking them out unless you have to brush your teeth, eat, or drink.
Once that first two-day period is over, you should still aim to keep them in as much as possible. About 22 hours a day minimum. The longer you have them in, the better it will be for your teeth. Plus, you’ll start noticing them less and less if you keep them on, which means no cause for discomfort.
#2 – YOU’LL NEED TO ADJUST HOW YOU SPEAK
One of the drawbacks with Invisalign is that it can affect your speech initially. When you first put them on, you will have a bit of a lisp. It’s important to prepare yourself for this so it won’t shock you as much when you talk. There’s nothing you can do to prevent this, it’s just a natural reaction to having these extra things in your mouth.
However, it’s worth noting that you won’t have a lisp the whole time you wear them. It will only really be in the first few days as you get used to the change. We recommend that you make an effort to learn how to speak with your aligners in your mouth. Don’t be tempted to remove them to speak to people, keep them in, practice makes perfect. If you keep taking them out, you’ll always have speech problems when they’re in. So, it makes more sense to just prepare for the lisp, and get over it as you wear them.
#3 – INVISALIGN TREATMENT LENGTH VARIES FOR EACH PERSON
Before you start Invisalign, you should probably know how long the treatment is going to last. On average, it can last from a few months to over a year for most adults. Of course, this all depends on the state of your teeth and how much work needs to be done. If your teeth are just slightly misaligned, or if there’s just one or two teeth out of place, then it might last less than a few months. Likewise, if your teeth aren’t in a great shape, it can take longer.
Don’t worry, everything will be discussed at your Invisalign consultation with our Specialist who will take a look at your teeth and talk you through everything so you know how long it should roughly last for you.
#4 – RESULTS ARE FAST
One of the great things about Invisalign is that it doesn’t take long to see results. In fact, most people see them after a couple of months. But, this only happens if you revert back to point #1 and keep your aligners in for as long as possible every day!
The treatment comes with a pre-arranged set of clear trays that you wear. You change them every 1-2 weeks into a new set of aligners that help bring your teeth into position. Doctor will tell you exactly how many trays you’ll need for your procedure and exactly how short of time you’ll need to complete your treatment.
#5 – REMEMBER TO FLOSS
With Invisalign, flossing is more important than ever, as you really need to keep your teeth and gums as clean as can be. When you don’t floss, there can be a buildup of food, plaque, and other such things between your teeth. This becomes problematic as it can then rub off into your aligners. Consequently, you could get this gunk stuck in the aligners, which means they don’t fit your teeth as perfectly as they should.
So, make sure you’re flossing every day, and make sure your technique is good too.
#6 – SET ASIDE SOME EXTRA TIME FOR DAILY DENTAL CARE
With Invisalign, you need to set aside a little extra minute or two as daily dental care takes longer.
For one, you have to brush and floss more often than you would without them. Every time you eat you need to give your teeth a brush and floss. This is purely because the Invisalign will cover your teeth and keep them covered in whatever you just ate. So, you could have sugar stuck to your teeth for hours on end if you don’t brush before putting the aligners back on. You can’t afford to miss any steps during your dental care routine either.
#7 – REMEMBER TO CLEAN YOUR ALIGNERS
This is such a big tip for anyone considering Invisalign. As well as looking after your teeth, you should also look after your aligners. They need to be cleaned every day, just like your teeth. Cleaning them is so easy, you just use your toothbrush and clean them with some toothpaste.
We suggest you do this every morning and evening while giving them a quick rinse whenever you take them off during the day. You will also get full cleaning instructions when you first get your Invisalign.
#8 – YOU CAN’T EAT WITH THEM ON, SORT OF
It shocks a lot of people to know that there’s a diet you should follow when you use Invisalign. Keep in mind that metal braces also have food restrictions, but with Invisalign you can always easily slip off your aligners while you eat, which makes it so you actually can eat anything you want! Just don’t eat while you’re actually wearing them so you can take care of them.
Also, it is important to drink water while you’re on this treatment. Water is already the best liquid for your teeth, but it’s also so needed when you wear aligners all day. Your mouth gets dry quickly, and it can feel uncomfortable at first. But, there’s nothing a little bit of water can’t fix. Drink regularly, and you will find it a lot easier to straighten your smile with the aligners.
#9 – INVISALIGN CAN HELP WHITEN YOUR TEETH
The main aim of Invisalign is purely to help realign your teeth and get your smile looking straighter. But, as a happy side effect, it can also help whiten your teeth. This goes back to what we said about Invisalign keeping things on your teeth. Well, if you brush with a whitening toothpaste, all the whitening agents will stick to your teeth and not get washed off thanks to the Invisalign.
Following on from this, it can also help protect your teeth from cavities too. Again, this is because the fluoride in toothpaste will stick to your teeth and not get diluted down from drinking water.
#10 – YOU GET ATTACHMENTS TO SPEED UP YOUR RESULTS
There will be tooth colored attachments on a few teeth that can help speed up the results. These are commonly referred to as Invisalign buttons.
Essentially, they’re little things that are attached to a tooth and the Invisalign tray. The aim is that it helps speed up the movement of that particular tooth to get it in line with the rest a lot quicker. They don’t stand out and they can help you see quicker results.
#11 – THERE’S NO AGE LIMIT FOR INVISALIGN
Some people think that there’s an age limit with Invisalign treatment. However, there’s no evidence to suggest this is true. People of all ages can enjoy the benefits of Invisalign.
#12 – YOU WILL NEED A RETAINER
Invisalign is a revolutionary treatment in that it can quickly yield results and hardly anyone will notice you’re wearing the aligners. However, as with braces, the work doesn’t stop when the treatment is over. Invisalign will do an amazing job, but it’s up to you to ensure it stays that way. You’ll get a retainer fitted for your newly aligned teeth which you have to keep in every night afterwards, don’t worry, its easy!
Too many people forget to do this, particularly after having braces. As a result, their teeth slowly start shifting again. The good news is, when you have Invisalign trays in your mouth for a year, you tend to get used to the feeling. So, sticking a retainer in before bed really doesn’t feel strange to you and can actually be rewarding knowing your smile is always going to stay amazing.
#13 – ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE MADE TO YOUR TEETH
Finally, it’s worth noting that some minor adjustments may be made to your teeth before your treatment. Again, this will all be discussed at your consultation. If your teeth are too big, they can get filed down slightly so they can fit in a tray with the rest of your teeth. Don’t panic, this isn’t a painful procedure at all, and it will only help you get more from your treatment and have a better-looking smile.
#14 – COST VARIES PER PERSON
Knowing the exact price of your Invisalign treatment can be difficult. It varies from person to person. The results that patients enjoy after their treatment are so astounding that patients are always grateful they had the opportunity to use them. To know how much it would cost you, book a consultation.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with some information you didn’t know about beforehand. Invisalign is a great treatment, and it can help bring back confidence to your smile.