Are you thinking about straightening your teeth with Invisalign or SureSmile? Clear aligners are a convenient and effective way to transform your smile. But to secure the best results and complete your treatment on time, it’s essential that you follow the correct procedures. Here are some dentist-approved tips that will help ensure a successful Invisalign or SureSmile treatment.
Straightening Your Teeth with Clear Aligners? Follow These Tips!
1: Never Eat or Drink When You’re Wearing the Aligners
One of the first rules of wearing clear aligner trays is to remove them before eating or drinking anything other than water. Consuming food or beverages while wearing your aligners can lead to stained teeth and stained aligners, trapped food particles, or even damage to the trays themselves. Certain foods and drinks can also cause the aligners to become discolored or warped, affecting their appearance and effectiveness.
2: Wear Your Aligners Day and Night
Consistency is the key to a successful clear aligner treatment. The effectiveness of Invisalign and SureSmile relies heavily on wearing your trays for the recommended 20-22 hours per day. Neglecting to wear them could slow your progress. Wearing your clear aligners day and night will ensure that your realignment happens on schedule, so you can complete your treatment as quickly as possible.
3: Keep Your Aligners Clean
Regularly cleaning your clear aligner trays is necessary to keep them clear, odor-free, and hygienic. But you have to clean them the right way. Here’s how to clean Invisalign and SureSmile clear aligners:
- Use a soft toothbrush and clear, antibacterial soap to gently clean your aligners twice a day.
- Alternatively, you can soak them in cleaning crystals once a day for a thorough clean.
- Make sure to rinse your aligners with room temperature water every time you remove them to eat or drink.
- Never use hot water or abrasive cleaners.
4: Store Your Aligners Properly
Always use the provided case to store your aligners when they’re not in your mouth, so they don’t get damaged or dirty. Storing your clear aligners properly will preserve their shape and clarity, so that they remain virtually invisible and comfortable to wear.
5: Protect Your Aligners from Damage
Invisalign and SureSmile clear aligners are durable, but can still be damaged if they are not handled with care. Here’s how to protect your clear aligners:
- Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures, such as hot water or direct sunlight.
- Keep them out of reach of pets and children.
- Never eat food or chew gum while wearing your aligners.
- Never use mouthwash while wearing your aligners.
By treating your clear aligners with care, you can ensure that they continue to function correctly throughout your treatment.
6: Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is important both during your straightening treatment and afterward. Good oral hygiene habits prevent bacteria from building up in the trays, which reduces the risk of cavities, gingivitis, and other dental issues. You should always brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day to prevent bad breath, infections, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Invisalign and SureSmile Clear Aligners in Daybreak, Utah
If you’re interested in straightening your teeth with clear aligners, contact Copper Creek Dental. We offer both Invisalign and SureSmile options to our patients in the South Jordan community. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about keeping your clear aligners clean and transforming your smile. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (5/28/2024). Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash