Our Langley dentists offer up some important information that you should take into consideration before choosing Invisalign orthodontic treatment.
1. It's a full-time commitment.
On of the convenient things about Invisalign aligners is that they are removable. However, they are still a full-time commitment, just like regular braces are. By full time, we mean 22 hours a day, every day, for the entire duration of treatment. The only time you should ever take your aligners out is for eating, brushing and flossing.
It can be very easy to just take a little break from treatment or to forget to put the aligners back in. So think it through before hand, and be honest with yourself. If you don’t think you’ll be able to be consistent, Invisalign may not be a good choice for you. On that note...
2. Invisalign may not be right for you.
Invisalign is an effective and convenient orthodontic treatment option for people with minor to moderate tooth misalignment. For more complex cases though, Invisalign could take a very long time, making braces a better choice.
3. You have to brush after EVERY meal.
It probably won't surprise you to learn that it's not a good idea to trap food particles in the tight space between your teeth and your aligners. It won’t feel very good for one thing, and can result in bad breath over time. But more importantly, it makes it easy for the bacteria that cause tooth decay to grow and multiply. So always make sure you have a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss handy to use between meals.
4. The aligners can become stained and warped.
Invisalign aligners can stain and warp when exposure to certain drinks. Dark coloured drinks like coffee and pop may cause discolouration, and hot liquids can cause the plastic material to warp. While it's not strictly necessary to take your aligners out to drink your coffee, it may be a good idea.
5. Those extra snacks may not be worth it.
You’ll have to be strategic about your meal schedule during your Invisalign treatment. If you want to have a snack in the afternoon, for instance remember that after you eat you'll need to take the extra time to brush and floss your teeth, and to clean your aligners before you put them back in. For the sake of convenience, eating bigger meals less frequently may be for the best.