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When some Invisalign patients first get their aligners, they either try to be overly careful with their aligners, or be reckless with them. While we can help replace any aligners that are lost or damaged, we’ll be concerned if the same patients keep coming back with issues with their aligners. Today, we’re blogging about some do’s and don’t’s about Invisalign, just a few care and maintenance tips that can keep your treatment going smoothly here in Toronto, ON.
TO DO During Treatment
- The Two Week Rule: Your aligners are meant to be worn for about two weeks at a time, on average. After every two week milestone, you can visit Dr. Hughes for your next set of aligners.
- 20 Hours Per Day: The magic number to shoot for, when it comes to how long you should wear your aligners each day, is 20 – 22 hours. If you forget to wear your aligner for hours each day, it could potentially set your treatment back.
- Cleanliness: Before you put your aligner back in, it’s best to rinse or lightly brush your aligners, or clean them with denture cleaner tabs. For an Invisalign cleaning solution, ask Dr. Andre Hughes for additional cleaning tips available at Christie Park Dental.
- Proper Removal Tips: Each aligner is shaped in such a way to shift the position of your teeth. But something as simple as taking the aligners off wrong could damage it.
- Go In Order: While you won’t have to worry about this, it’s important that you wear your aligners in order. You’ll receive your new set of aligners every two weeks or so, and follow Dr. Hughes’ instructions when it comes to disposing of your old aligners.
What NOT TO DO During Treatment
- Throw Away Aligners: It happens to patients more often then you think, with patients accidentally throwing away their aligners. Be careful where you place your aligners, and do not throw them away until your treatment is completed.
- Exposing Aligners to the Elements: The aligners are constructed from a durable plastic, but this also means they can be damaged by the same elements that other plastic items are. In other words, keep your aligners away from heat sources like ovens, stoves, or microwaves, and away from the reach of children and pets.
- Treating Aligners Improperly: Similar to reasons above about exposing your aligners to the elements, you need to store them correctly as well. Don’t leave them out on the table during meals, wrap them in napkins, or leave your aligners in your pocket.
- Eat with Aligners On: This is one of the most important instructions we leave with Invisalign patients. Due to the nature of your aligners’ material, it’s vital that you never eat meals or snacks while wearing your aligners.
- Use Toothpaste on Aligners: Contrary to belief, don’t use toothpaste to clean your aligner trays, as this could damage them. Instead, try denture cleaning solution, or ask us at Christie Park Dental for more tips about aligner care.
An Easy Alternative to Braces
If this is the first time you’re looking at teeth correction treatments, you may have heard of Invisalign being a great alternative to braces. We’ve heard this sentiment from many patients here in Toronto, and encourage you to explore our infosite for more information about this unique treatment. Instead of metallic brackets and wires, Invisalign is just a series of crafted aligners that you wear in sequence until your treatment is complete. On average, patients have experienced a quicker treatment time than those with braces, for about 12 to 18 months compared to a few years with braces.
Does this treatment sound like something you’d be interested in? Contact us at Christie Park Dental to schedule you for your Invisalign consultation with Dr. Andre Hughes.
