Most of us are willing to spend a pretty penny on our teeth to make sure we have a pearly white smile that’s nice and straight. Whereas traditional braces can be clunky and unappealing, new invisalign braces are now more affordable than ever and make fixing your teeth and absolute breeze. If you’re ready to get the smile you’ve always dreamed then keep reading!
You now have the option to straighten your smile without the embarrassment of wearing hard-wired braces to school or work every day. Invisalign clear aligners are quickly growing in popularity among those looking to improve their smile without hassle.
What’s so appealing about aligners is that not only are they invisible, but the treatment is also relatively easy to follow. While the process can be a little more regimented than the hard-wired braces due to the fact that it’s often done in a shorter amount of time, patients are able to take their Invisalign out when they need to and in most cases, they wear it without anyone even noticing! Interested in getting Invisalign clear aligners? Here’s everything to expect with Invisalign braces
1. Keep Wearing Your Aligners!
To get the most use of your Invisalign braces you’ll need to keep them in as long as possible. You are able to take the aligners out whenever needed which means it can be tempting to pop them out numerous times throughout the day for a snack break here and there, especially in the beginning when you’re still trying to master talking with them in.
While the temptation is there , don’t fall for it! In order for Invisalign to work, the aligners must be worn for at least 22-hours a day. The other two hours are really just to allow time for the patient to eat. Start snacking smartly and eventually this will become a habit!
2. Brush, Brush, Brush!
One of the main reasons Invisalign is so popular is because it’s invisible and can be worn without anyone really noticing. What’s not to like about that? Be sure to keep your oral hygiene up to par by brushing and flossing regularly. Not only with it be better for your oral health overall, it’ll keep your aligners a lot cleaner too!
Your brushing habits will have a lot to do with how much you eat or drink a day or when you choose to set your snack on meal times. To prevent stains and plaque build-up, it’s a good idea to always keep a travel tooth brush on you for when you’re on the go. That way, not only will you be straightening your teeth, you’ll be bettering your oral health at the same time!
3. Speaking of a Toothbrush, Keep One Nearby!
Before getting the Invisalign clear aligners, be sure to start stocking toothbrushes everywhere and invest in a nice little compact brush! This is because you should be brushing your teeth to make sure your oral health is in check. Every single time you eat or drink something that isn’t water, you have to brush your teeth. Keep one nearby and you’ll never have to forget about teeth-brushing again.
Soon enough you’ll get used to the idea of running to the bathroom at work and brushing your teeth at lunch, or any other public bathroom for that matter. What’s even better is you’ll likely meet some new friends who are in there doing the same thing! Bonding over braces? Not weird at all!
4. You’ll Get Lots of Attachments
When we think of Invisalign it seems pretty flawless. You might even know someone who already has it and can see that it actually is quite invisible. While this is true, just know that every patient’s mouth is different and yours might not look or feel the same as someone else.
The way the clear aligners stay secured to the teeth is with attachments. According to Health.com these attachments are often enamel-colored ridges that stick to the side of the teeth like brackets. “These attachments click into the Invisalign aligners to help the teeth move more effectively. Without the aligners in, the attachment bumps are virtually invisible. But with the aligners in, it looks like you have clear braces,” writes the source. You could have two attachments or have 20 and there’s a big difference between them!
5. Invisalign Is Now More Affordable Than Ever!
Orthodontic treatment is not always covered by insurance, so sometimes it’s paid out of pocket. What’s great about invisalign is that treatment is now covered by many insurance and medicare providers, meaning that it’s more affordable than ever to get the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Give your health insurance provider a call and have a chat with your orthodontic specialist to figure out a treatment and payment plan that will work the best for you. Research is always a must with any new product you choose to invest in, and invisalign is no different. The best way to learn about pricing is to visit an orthodontist and get an actual quote.
The factors that come into play are the extent of the alignment your teeth require and how many aligners you need throughout treatment. The typical cost of regular braces varies widely, but is usually in the range of $2,500 to $6,000. Again, the cost varies on a case-by-case basis, depending on your individual needs, and should be discussed with your dentist.
6. Expect That’ll Take Some Getting Used To
Anyone that has any kind of sensitivity in their mouth knows how uncomfortable it can be, and according to Aura Orthodontics, this could be one of the side effects of Invisalign aligners. In a blog post written by the practice, they state that patients sometimes experience some sensitivity when they first start wearing the aligners and when they switch to a new tray.
Most of the time the discomfort associated with this is mild and doesn’t last longer than a few days. Don’t worry too much about it, it just means the treatment is working! The best thing to do for sensitivity is to avoid cold drinks for a few days and stick to eating only soft foods.
One of their tips to combat the pain that is sometimes associated with Invisalign is to switch out the new tray at night before bed so that you’re asleep during the most painful hours of the new transition.
7. Opt for Cold Water
As we’ve already discussed in this article, the only thing that can be consumed while wearing Invisalign clear aligners is cold water. If you’re a coffee drinker, don’t panic!
You can just pop them out and enjoy your cup of coffee! You’ll need to then run to the bathroom, brush your teeth and then put the aligners back in. Remember, you only get two hours aligner free a day, so you won’t want to be popping them in and out or nursing a cup of coffee over a long period of time.
8. Keep Your Attachments Clean
You can easily avoid staining the clear aligners by popping them in and out when eating, but those attachments that hold the aligners in place are fastened to the side of your teeth and cannot be removed. This is another reason why it’s super important to be quite diligent with brushing your teeth.
If you don’t keep them clean you run the risk of them looking gross while you wear them, but with proper brushing this shouldn’t be a problem.
9. You Might Have a Lisp And It’ll Be So Cute!
There’s no real way around this one so it’s best to just accept it! You will likely have a bit of a lisp when you first start wearing your Invisalign aligners. Don’t worry, it’s just your mouth getting used to the feel of the retainers. It’s not permanent and won’t last long.
You’ll learn to master it after wearing them for a week or so. Before you know it, people will not only not be able to see the aligners, but they won’t be able to hear them either!
10. You Might Lose Weight
Have you ever heard of the ‘Invisalign diet?’ This term was coined after people starting wearing Invisalign and noticing a slight change in their weight. This began to happen because of all the strict rules around eating and drinking with the Invisalign.
In the beginning, you might not mind running to the bathroom after enjoying a quick snack or cup of coffee, but after a few months of this, you might start to get, well, lazy and begin sacrificing these extra snacks throughout the day in order to save a trip to the bathroom. As a result, you’ll find that you’re eating less.
11. You Can’t Smoke
Smoking isn’t recommended to anyone in general whether you’re wearing Invisalign aligners or not! However, we know that there are still people out there who do smoke so it’s important to note that a patient cannot smoke while wearing them, says Dental Choice in a blog post.
The rule is the same as it is for food or drink, you cannot consume anything while wearing them because they will get stained. The only thing that can be consumed while wearing the aligners is water (can’t be hot water).
12. You Have to Use a Retainer When Treatment is Finished
You might think once the Invisalign program is complete that you can say goodbye to anymore treatment, you’re wrong! It doesn’t end there. Dental Choice writes in a blog post that in order to maintain that perfectly straight smile, you’ll need to wear a retainer afterwards. Teeth have a nasty habit of shifting back to their original state.
This happens even with people who wore braces. The follow-up treatment is different for each and every patient, it all depends on the severity and state of their teeth. You might have to wear the last set of Invisalign aligners for a bit longer to help transition into a retainer and depending on the situation, you’ll have to use the retainer every day or only at night.
Source: AFP