Have you been wanting to straighten your teeth or close the gap right in the front of your mouth? Why haven’t you? Oh, right—you’re too old for braces, right? The Office of David Tillman, DDS understands how it feels to have a polished appearance and not want it to be blemished with metal brackets and wires. If you’re considering getting Invisalign in Fort Worth, you may be wondering what maintenance will be required to make this treatment most effective.
What exactly is Invisalign?
Invisalign clear braces use a series of practically invisible, removable aligners. Many times, people can’t even tell you’re wearing them! The aligners are custom fit and apply a constant, gentle pressure to guide teeth into the correct locations. You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move gradually until they have straightened to their final positions. You can watch a video here to view the process.
Cleaning Do’s
If you keep your aligners clean, your Invisalign system will be the most effective and ward off dental issues. The easiest way to clean and sanitize them are when they’re out of your mouth. Follow these steps to keep your custom aligners clean.
- Remove your aligners when you’re ready to start your dental routine.
- Gently brush your aligners with a soft toothbrush, this will remove any food particles from the inside and outside of your aligning trays. Non-abrasive toothpaste can be used for a more thorough cleaning, but be sure not to brush too vigorously, doing so may scratch the surface of the Aligners making them more visible.
- After brushing all the surfaces, rinse under cold water. Rinsing with hot water may warp or disfigure aligners since they’re created from plastic.
- After cleaning and rinsing, set the aligners aside to dry while you brush and floss your teeth—yes, you still have to brush your natural teeth, too. It is recommended that you use an antimicrobial mouthwash when you are using orthodontic appliances due to the increased bacterial activity in your mouth during treatment.
- Once you have finished brushing your teeth, your clean Aligners can be placed back on your teeth per your Orthodontist’s instructions. Invisalign Aligners can also be sanitized as needed by briefly soaking them in a special solution specially made for Invisalign (ask your Fort Worth dentist).
Cleaning Don’t’s
There are some cleaning methods that we recommend you avoid during your straightening treatment.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners that might scratch or mar the surface of your custom trays. Use a non-abrasive cleaner make sure your Invisalign system stays invisible.
- Do not soak your Aligners in mouthwash, doing so may discolor your Aligners making them less invisible.
- Do not soak aligners in denture cleaning solution, it is too abrasive for Invisalign aligners, use the specified solution instead.
- Only use a soft bristled toothbrush, firm bristles may scratch the surface of your Aligners making them more visible.
Get Started with Your Invisalign Treatment
If you’re ready to straighten your teeth, contact Dr. Tillman’s dental practice. We’re happy to schedule a consultation with our expert dentist.