Our experienced orthodontist and staff at Gavri Orthodontics in Fulshear, Texas, understand the value of a beautiful smile! We are pleased to provide cutting-edge treatments to successfully straighten your teeth, including Invisalign for both teens and adults!
As Invisalign clear braces become a more popular alternative to traditional metal braces, it is critical for all of our Invisalign patients to make the most of their treatment, ensuring healthy, straight teeth that are both brilliant and beautiful! Our team has compiled a list of 10 tips and tricks for the most successful Invisalign treatment possible:
The 48-Hour Rule
Wear each aligner tray as much as possible during the first 48 hours of your Invisalign treatment! Dr. Gavri recommends removing your trays only to brush your teeth for the first two days, then replacing them as soon as possible. The first stage of Invisalign treatment is critical for accurate treatment throughout your teeth straightening process.
In comparison to traditional metal braces, Invisalign only works if you wear your trays for the majority of the day! An Invisalign patient must wear their trays for at least 22 hours per day in order to get quick, accurate results. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it!
Changing Your Aligners on Schedule
If Dr. Gavri says it’s time to change your aligner tray, it’s time to change it! With Invisalign, patience is essential! Much like traditional braces, the final opinion of a professional orthodontist is required to determine how long each tray should be worn.
Getting Over Strange Sensations
Most Invisalign patients report that they can feel their trays pushing against their teeth during the first few days of treatment. While slightly uncomfortable at first, Invisalign aligners are not painful and become less noticeable as you wear them more frequently. Sticking to the 22-hour rule will help you get used to your trays faster than if you constantly take them in and out.
Using Invisalign Trays to Communicate
When you first put your new Invisalign trays in, you may notice a slight lisp in your speech. Much like the strange sensations of the trays at first, the more you wear them and practice speaking in them, the faster your lisp will disappear.
Making Use of Invisalign Attachments
At Gavri Orthodontics, we provide what are known as “buttons” to help speed up treatment on occasion. These buttons assist in holding trays in place or specifically moving a difficult tooth. Many Invisalign patients avoid these attachments, but it’s important to understand that these buttons can significantly shorten your treatment time.
Maintaining Extraordinary Oral Hygiene
With the ability to remove your Invisalign aligners at any time, it’s critical to brush and floss your teeth on a daily basis. While your aligners are pressed tightly against your teeth, your saliva will be unable to naturally wash away any gunk left behind, resulting in unwanted bacteria build-up directly on your tooth enamel. Brushing and flossing your teeth thoroughly after each meal will help you maintain good oral hygiene during your Invisalign treatment, preventing plaque, tartar, and cavities.
Taking Care of Your Aligners
It is critical to clean your Invisalign trays every time you remove them. Dry saliva and plaque provide an ideal breeding environment for foul-smelling bacteria. Soaking your aligners in denture cleaner, Retainer Brite, or the official Invisalign cleaning crystals are all good ways to keep your trays clean and sanitary.
You can also use a clear, antibacterial soft soap to clean your aligners. Clear, antibacterial soap is an excellent and inexpensive way to keep your aligners clear, fresh, and bacteria-free. As a side note, using toothpaste to clean your trays will scratch the plastic and create spaces for bacteria to live inside your aligners.
Getting Plenty of Water
Drink plenty of water while your Invisalign trays are in place! As with traditional braces, your mouth will detect the presence of something foreign, causing you to produce a large amount of extra saliva and quickly become dehydrated. Dr. Gavri will walk you through a strict regimen on how much water you should drink and what types of drinks you should avoid, as with any orthodontic treatment.
After-Treatment Use of Invisalign Trays
It’s as simple as following your doctor’s orders to use your Invisalign trays correctly! After completing Invisalign treatment, some patients choose not to wear their trays at all, which means they may lose some of their progress. By carefully following Dr. Gavri’s post-care instructions, you can ensure that your Invisalign treatment will continue to work properly in the long run.