Invisalign plastic aligners are an increasingly popular alternative to metal braces. Fans of the Invisalign see-through dental correction devices applaud them for their subtlety. In an ideal world, you’ll be the only one who knows you’re wearing them. are an increasingly popular alternative to metal braces. Fans of the Invisalign see-through dental correction devices applaud them for their subtlety. In an ideal world, you’ll be the only one who knows you’re wearing them.
That is not to say there aren’t some challenges. Some who wear them complain about slight discomfort, especially when their set is brand new. Thankfully, we have some easy hacks that will help you get most out of your Invisalign experience.
1.) Clear mouthwash baths: Prolonged use of your trays can result in an unclean taste in your mouth, especially if you skip brushing here and there. Two to three times per week, as necessary, soak your trays in a diluted clear mouthwash bath, such as the Biotène Dry Mouth Rinse. Half-mouthwash, half-water should do the trick. This will help with freshness. A quick soak for three to five minutes at a time is all you need.
2.) Tray removal tool: It’s not exactly flattering, nor is it enjoyable to be constantly putting your fingers in your mouth every time you want to take out your trays. For ladies, you have the added concern of messing up your nails. For this, simply purchase an Invisalign tray removal tool, such as The Outie. Don’t skip this step as your clear dental trays may indeed be quite tricky to remove, especially when you’ve got brand new trays in your mouth.
3.) Smooth the edges: Ignore this hack if you aren’t feeling any sharp edges. However, if your gums, tongue or cheeks are feeling scraped, find yourself a fine grit nail buffer. Watch out— you don’t want a coarse metal file for this job! A fine-grit nail buffer is the perfect tool to smooth over the edges of your plastic corrective dental wear.
4.) Brush after every meal: Your dentist will encourage you to wear your Invisalign trays exactly 22 hours per day, if possible. However, there is no good reason for putting them in immediately after a meal, unless you’ve already brushed. This is a must. No matter what, don’t try and wiggle a way around this important tip. If you do, the food that’s stuck in your teeth will actually distort the shape of your trays, thereby causing your teeth to become poorly aligned. This is not to mention the terrible bad breath.
5.) Travel dental care kit: Your investment in your smile is not a “set it and forget it” deal. Commit to the routine upkeep of your teeth and the process will work better. Your teeth will respond better to the treatment and you’ll avoid bad breath. You might find some pre-assembled travel dental care kits, but you might instead assemble your own personalized portable kit. An all-star kit will include: a retainer case, a travel-size toothbrush, mini interdental brushes, and aligner chewies.
6.) Take it easy with coffee and tea: A surefire way to make your Invisalign trays anything but invisible is to drink a lot of coffee and tea. For some, this can be a major lifestyle change, but it is very important. If you are choosing Invisalign because of the fact that they can’t easily be seen, the last thing you want to do is stain them an unattractive shade of yellow.
Now that you’ve gotten the insider tips, you’re ready to straighten up your smile with Invisalign! Oso Marguerite Dental is a Mission Viejo, California dental group that wants more than your patronage. This guide has been crafted according to our best practices, so rest assured your happiest smile is our highest priority.
