Invisalign is perfect for both teens and adults who are looking to straighten their teeth without the look of having braces. Before choosing Invisalign, there is some important information you should know about.
1. You must wear your aligners full time.
You are making a full time commitment with Invisalign. For Invisalign to do its job, you have to wear your aligners for a minimum of 20-22 hours a day as prescribed by your orthodontist, every day. You should only ever take them out to eat, or to brush and floss.
It can be tempting to remove these aligners when the going gets tough, and it's certainly easy to forget to put them back in! If you believe you might have the inclination to remove your Invisalign orthodontics more than you should, you may be better off choosing other orthodontic treatments.
2. It can be difficult to talk at first.
Until you get used to talking with your new aligners in, you may find you’re doing a lot of mumbling and lisping.
3. Invisalign may not be right for you.
Invisalign is a great choice for minor or moderate orthodontic problems. If your misalignment is more complex, it may take extremely long to align your teeth with Invisalign. It may be more efficient for you to use traditional braces if this is the case.
4. You’ll have to brush after EVERY meal.
If you don't brush after eating and just put your aligners back in, you're essentially sealing food particles in against your teeth under your aligners. This creates a seal for bacteria on your teeth to spread, causing potential decay and fowl breath. To prevent these problems, invest in a travel tooth brush or keep one in your desk at work.
5. They can stain.
Your Invisalign aligners have the potential to stain when exposed to certain drinks, so you may want to devote some of your two-hour time to drinking that cup of coffee in the morning.
6. Those extra snacks may not be worth it.
You will have to stay mindful of what you eat. Remember that if you want a snack mid afternoon, it may not be worth it to take out your aligners, eat, and then also take the extra time to brush and floss. Be sure to eat enough during your main meals, otherwise you could create more work for yourself!
7. It's pretty comfortable!
Invisalign aligners are normally quite comfortable to wear. You may feel a some pressure of discomfort when you change trays every two weeks, but for most people, this is very minimal.
