Keeping your Invisalign in good condition requires knowing what can hinder your progress. Here are common mistakes in Invisalign care and how to avoid them.
Well over 10 million people from all across the world have used Invisalign to straighten their teeth. Using Invisalign has turned into one of the most effective ways for people to improve their smiles.
If your dentist just recommended braces to you, you should look into the many benefits of Invisalign. You should also make sure you're prepared to put a proper Invisalign care routine into place.
If you make any mistakes in Invisalign care, it could impact your ability to
take full advantage of Invisalign in the first place. It's why you should be sure you're ready to take good care of your Invisalign aligners from the start.
Here are seven common mistakes in Invisalign care and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Eating With Aligners in Your Mouth
There are many reasons to choose Invisalign aligners over traditional metal braces. But the biggest benefit of doing it is that you'll be able to take aligners out and put them back in as you please.
With this in mind, you shouldn't make the mistake of leaving your aligners in all the time while you're eating. This is going to make it more difficult than it should be to keep your aligners clean.
You might also find that your aligners will get discolored and possibly even broken when you eat with them in your mouth. Get yourself into the habit of taking your aligners out even when you're only having a small snack. Not doing this is one of the worst mistakes in Invisalign care that you can make.
2. Failing to Clean Aligners When They're Removed
If you're going to remove aligners to eat, why not take the time to clean them before putting them back in your mouth? You can eliminate a lot of the bacteria that can grow on them by learning
how to clean aligners.
Some people will take the time to brush their teeth and even floss them when they take their aligners out. But then, they'll pop their aligners right back in without giving it a second thought even though they'll still have bacteria on them.
You'll be better off cleaning your aligners almost every time you remove them from your mouth. It'll ensure they're always as clear as they can be.
3. Using the Wrong Products to Clean Your Aligners
Are you cleaning your aligners by simply running them under the water in your bathroom? Or are you doing it by brushing them with toothpaste?
Either way, you aren't using the right Invisalign cleaning tools if this is the way you're cleaning your aligners.
Instead of using something like toothpaste to clean your aligners, you should pull out a bottle of denture cleaner. It's going to get your aligners so much cleaner than they would be otherwise.
You can even go as far as to use mild soap and water to clean your aligners. In this case, you'll just need to make it a point to rinse them off thoroughly before you put them back into your mouth and begin wearing them again.
4. Skipping Daily Maintenance for Your Aligners
Most people who choose to wear Invisalign aligners to improve the appearance of their teeth have to do it for somewhere between 12 to 18 months to get the best results. Because of this, you may forget to maintain your aligners once in a while.
It won't be the end of the world if you do this. But if you start skipping daily maintenance for your aligners every other day, that's when it can turn into a problem.
Your Invisalign care routine should call for you to clean your aligners at least once every day, if not several times. It'll guarantee that you're able to get your aligners as clean as possible.
5. Exposing Your Aligners to Bacteria
If you remove your aligners from your mouth and plan to keep them out for more than a few minutes, you don't want to just set them down on a bathroom counter and leave them there. That's a good way to expose them to bacteria that might end up back in your mouth if you aren't careful.
Instead, you should place your aligners into an airtight container when you're not using them. This will keep bacteria away from them and provide them with protection until you're ready to start wearing them again.
6. Putting Broken Aligners Into Your Mouth
Invisalign aligners are designed to be pretty durable. But there is always a small chance that they might get broken if you drop them on the ground or fidget with them when they're in your mouth.
If one of your aligners ever breaks, you should contact your orthodontist as soon as you can to decide what you should do next. More often than not, you'll need to obtain new aligners so that you don't have to put broken ones into your mouth.
7. Neglecting to Wear Your Aligners Every Day
As we alluded to earlier, you should only have to wear Invisalign aligners for between 12 and 18 months to get great results. But you might put yourself in a position where you'll have to wear them for a longer time than that if you neglect to wear them every day.
Removing the aligners and keeping them clean will obviously be important. But you shouldn't take them out and leave them out for extended periods of time if you can avoid doing it. If you neglect to wear your aligners for even just a day or two, it could throw your Invisalign treatment plan all off track.
Steer Clear of Making These Mistakes in Invisalign Care
It's easy to make some of these mistakes in Invisalign care if you're not paying close enough attention. You should keep them on your radar at all times and do what you can to sidestep them.
You should also attend appointments with your orthodontist on a regular basis so that they can monitor your progress. It should keep your Invisalign treatment moving down the right path.
Contact Putnam Bright Smile Dentistry for more information on Invisalign.
