Dos and Don’ts of Your Invisalign Treatment
Invisalign treatment – The success of orthodontic treatment depends on both the work of your orthodontist and the precautions you have to take during the treatment.
Invisalign aligners are gaining popularity for their ease of treatment. They allow more flexibility than fixed braces, but they still require that you follow a few rules.
To find out what you should or should not do with your Invisalign treatment, read on! Normand Bach, orthodontist in Montréal, gives you all the details.
Why Opt for Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign treatment is a removable device that straightens your teeth. Tailor-made, it can solve any problem of dental misalignment. This invisible mouthpiece is very discreet and gives more freedom to the person who wears it in terms of comfort, eating and cleaning of the teeth or the device. This is what makes it so attractive.
Unlike fixed braces, these dental aligners are suitable for many types of dental malocclusions and reduce the sensitivity of the teeth to the device. Patients barely feel the movement. This treatment has the potential to be faster than conventional orthodontic treatment, lasting only a few months in some cases.
Aligners: Some Tips During the Treatment
You may experience some discomfort during your Invisalign treatment. Keep in mind that the mouthpiece must be on your teeth between 20 and 22 hours a day. But what is the difference with conventional braces in this case? They are removable so you can eat without food restrictions. You must therefore remove them to eat.
Oral care recommendations persist, even during treatment: avoid drinks with too much sugar that could get between the aligner and your teeth, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
You can clean your braces with cold water and a soft toothbrush. You can also use a little toothpaste to clean your removable appliance. Also be sure to wash your hands before handling your aligner.
You will need to keep the aligners in your mouth at night. If you feel some discomfort during the first few days, it is normal: you will get used to it. Give yourself time to adjust.
Oral hygiene should always be a priority, but it must be monitored even more closely throughout treatment. During orthodontic treatment, there is a risk of getting food stuck in the appliance.
Since treatment is designed to be as close to the teeth as possible, food debris can interfere with proper treatment of malocclusions; using dental floss can help with this.
If you have gotten a new pair of aligners during your treatment, start wearing them only at bedtime. Your teeth will have eight hours to get used to the new aligners, significantly reducing potential discomfort during the day.
Invisalign Treatment: Some Precautions
When you remove your Invisalign aligners, avoid applying a too strong pressure, at the risk of damaging your apparatus, or worse, your teeth. Follow the indications of your orthodontist to remove them in the good way.
When you put the Invisalign aligner back in your mouth, it is tempting to clench your teeth to put them in place. We strongly recommend that you do not do this to avoid distorting them by the pressure exerted.
If you place your finger inside your mouth behind the last molar on each side and apply a slight pressure, the aligner should be able to be removed without problems.
Remove aligners only when necessary. Constantly taking them off and reinserting them lessens the effectiveness of the treatment. Do not use products made for dentures unless recommended by your orthodontist!
Invisalign treatment is a little different than traditional orthodontic treatment. The discreet appearance comes from the composition of the aligners, which are made of clear plastic. Using such products can risk staining the aligner. It doesn’t make it any less effective, but it will become much more visible. Some lipsticks and spices like turmeric will stain your aligners, so double your vigilance!
Dr. Normand Bach is an experienced orthodontist in Montréal who treats a variety of patients every day. To recover your smile with Invisalign treatment, consult us today!
