For many people who want to use Invisalign to correct their teeth, the first few weeks can be a rough process. For both the dentist and the patient, Invisalign offers an exciting new way to begin their journey towards a new smile. Establishing a consistent healthy routine that incorporates Invisalign can present some of the most formidable challenges, especially if adjusting to their plastic mold. Moving teeth can be incredibly awkward, uncomfortable, and leave behind slight pain that’s discouraging in many ways. For any avid person ready to take on the prospect of straighter teeth, here are some tips for the journey along the way:
Practice Chewing Exercises
Invisalign works by forcing the teeth into the ideal position gradually, and that long push towards healthy teeth can cause the gums and teeth to hurt. Chewing with Invisalign can help the mold bend its shape better, and chewing exercises that workout the jawline can stimulate blood flow to the gums, which acts as a pain reliever for the mouth.
Keep Your Tongue Protected
The start of the treatment can be the most irritating, especially for your tongue. Because the first week of Invisalign often starts with hard plastic edges, the edges can irritate the tongue and cause micro-cuts. To help soften the edges, use wax, and apply it to the sensitive areas to keep your gums and tongue from irritation. Other methods of correcting these braces include filing down the edges and using a peroxide-based mouthwash to help irritations heal.
Track How Long You Wear Invisalign
Successful treatment starts with planning – and tracking how long you wear your aligners each day can lead to even greater success incorporating the treatment into your life. Most often, people who begin wearing clear aligners often suffer from a lack of motivation, and combine that with the aligners’ discomfort often leads to failure. Those just beginning often take out their braces for more time unknowingly. The best practice to take when lacking motivation is to track how long you wear your aligners. Tracking how long you wear aligners can greatly affect how you view the treatment and give you more boundaries in controlling how you straighten your teeth.
Keep Your Trays Clean
One of the biggest struggles with wearing Invisalign not only comes from wearing it too little but also too much, specifically when eating or drinking. Having a cup of coffee with aligners on can be admitted, but eating too often with aligners on can cause them to stain and lose its lifecycle. If you find some staining, try using cleansers to wash away the food particles and bacteria, and make sure to do this every night alongside brushing your teeth.
Have A Routine and Stick to It
Routines are essential for the best smile journeys, and having a routine that incorporates good oral hygiene and Invisalign is the number one way to make the Invisalign treatment stick truly. By sticking to a routine, you can have the confidence you need to succeed.
For more information about Invisalign, Aesthetic Dentistry of Palm City, operated by Drs. Shannon and Tom Galinis in Palm City, FL, can help you decide whether or not Invisalign is right for you.
