Invisalign is one of the best, easiest, and most discreet ways out there to get the straight, confident smile you’ve always wanted. However, to get the most out of your Invisalign aligners in the most efficient time frame possible, you’ll want to keep these five pro tips in mind.
1. Keep Track of Your Invisalign Schedule
Typically, Invisalign aligners are switched out every week, and you should be sure to closely track your progress so that you don’t miss any of your swap-out dates. Staying as close to schedule as possible helps to ensure that your treatment continues as planned without needing any unplanned adjustments that could cause a longer journey to the finish line.
2. Wear Your Aligners For At Least 22 Hours A Day
It’s recommended that you wear your Invisalign aligners for at least 22 hours every day. This ensures that your teeth can continue moving in the right direction without the risk of them shifting back or extending your total treatment time. While you will, of course, need to remove your aligners out when eating or drinking anything other than water, try your best to ensure that they stay in place for a majority of the day.
3. Drink Plenty of Water
Water is the one thing you can drink without having to remove your aligners, and because aligners can make you salivate more when they are in, you can risk potential dry mouth and dehydration if you aren’t drinking enough water. Also, water is just plain good for youth, so drinking more is a win for both your oral and overall health- SCORE!
4. Keep Your Aligners Clean
Invisalign aligners can lose some of their clarity if you aren’t cleaning them often enough, or if they are exposed to drinks and foods that can stain them over time (See #3). While you can use an aligner cleaning system to clean them, you can also wash them with antibacterial soap and warm water. However, remember never to wash them in hot water or with anything abrasive, as this can damage them and potentially have a negative impact on your treatment.
5. Hold On To Your Old Aligners
If something does happen to your current aligners (like the tried and true “my dog ate my aligners” tragedy- it happens more than you think!), you’ll want to have the old ones to wear until a replacement pair can be ordered. A replacement pair can take up to a week to arrive, and you don’t want to go without any aligners at all in the meantime, as your teeth can start to shift back faster than you’d think. By putting in your last set of aligners, you can stop this from happening and prevent losing out on any significant progress. Also be sure to let us know you’ve misplaced an aligner and we can help you get a plan together.
If you are thinking about Invisalign or are currently wearing aligners, keep these five pro tips in mind so that you can get the absolute MOST out of your Invisalign treatment! While these tips may seem simple, they can truly have a huge impact when it comes to getting the perfect smile that you’ve always wanted as quickly as possible without any mishaps along the way!
Ready to start YOUR Invisalign journey? PRO TIP: Give us a call at Mint Hill Orthodontics today to schedule your 100% FREE Smile Consult!
