For over a decade people have been using Invisalign technology to straighten their teeth without the hassle of traditional braces. Invisalign can offer the same results as traditional braces with fewer of the side effects. Aligners straighten crooked and crowded teeth, close gaps, and can even adjust overbites and underbites. However, unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are hardly noticeable and much less painful. There are some challenges to using Invisalign aligners, though. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your experience.

You should floss every day. Dentists tell us every time we see them how important flossing is but wearing Invisalign aligners makes flossing more important than ever. They cover your teeth for about 22 hours out of the day so you want to make sure that there is no gunk under them. Normally your saliva can rinse away anything left over after you brush but aligners can prevent this from happening making flossing is more important than ever.

Wear your aligners as much as possible. You should be wearing them for at least 22 hours a day, only removing them to brush your teeth or eat. Failing to wear them for the required 22 hours can result in slow results. This is even more important when switching between aligners. When you move to your nest aligner, you’ll need to wear it at all times, excluding when brushing, for 48 hours. It’s also important to make sure that you’re changing to a new aligner at the right time and in the right order. Using the nest aligner before your dentist recommends will not get you faster results.

Wearing aligners can be a strange experience at first. People can experience higher salivation than normal while you get used to your new aligners. Like traditional braces, there is some pressure from shifting teeth. However, unlike traditional braces, especially after an adjustment, there is little pain. Getting used to speaking while wearing your Invisalign aligners can be a challenge as well. The best way to get up the steep learning curve is to practice. It will be tempting to take out your aligners to speak but you’ll get used to it faster if you don’t.

It’s important to care for you aligners properly. The best way to clean them is to with warm, not hot, water and antibacterial soap. Invisalign offers their own products for cleaning that you can take advantage of but soap and water can do the trick. You should never use toothpaste to clean out your aligners. Toothpaste can scratch the plastic surface of your aligners and create spots for bacteria to grow.

If you’re ready to start your Invisalign journey, check out the bet densest in Beaufort County, Dr. Angie Rhodes. Call today for an appointment with Dr. Rhodes to talk about Invisalign options. We want to help you achieve a healthy and properly aligned, beautiful smile.