What Do Invisalign Aligners Look Like?
Invisalign aligners are custom-made from scans of your teeth and are crafted from smooth, high-quality, low-profile, and clear plastic. As a result, they essentially look like see-through molds of your teeth! Once they are on, they will blend in seamlessly so no unwanted attention is drawn to your smile.
Why Do I Need to Wear My Aligners for 20-22 Hours a Day?
The short answer is: your treatment plan depends on it! In other words, you need to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day in order for your teeth to move as anticipated. One of the best ways to make sure that you meet this goal each and every day is by creating a schedule and using the stopwatch on your phone as a guide.
Tip: If you’re having trouble meeting the 20-22 hour-a-day goal, do your best to multi-task. For example, you can soak your aligners in the cleaning crystals during dinner!
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Invisalign?
There aren’t any dietary restrictions with Invisalign. There are, however, certain foods that increase your chances of developing tooth decay, like sour gummy candies. Crunchy foods (i.e., hard pretzels, popcorn, tortilla chips) also can cause an attachment to come loose, which is an orthodontic emergency that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible to prevent unwanted delays. That’s why we recommend sticking to a well-balanced diet that’s filled with nutrient-dense foods and low in added sugar.
What Should I Do If I Damage an Invisalign Aligner?
Although your aligners are crafted from durable materials, we still recommend taking precautions to protect them from harm, like cleaning them over a soft towel. Even then, accidents happen from time to time. If you find yourself with a damaged tray, then call us immediately so we can learn more about the situation. From there, we can determine if it’s safe to wear for a few more days, if a replacement tray needs to be made, or if you can move onto the next set of aligners in the series a bit early.
What Happens After My Invisalign Treatment?
Once you’ve worn each aligner and you’re happy with the results, it will be time to move onto the next phase of treatment: the retention phase. In order to create a custom retainer, we will need to take impressions of your teeth. Since the process of making this orthodontic appliance can take some time, you will continue to wear your aligners in the meantime. Once it arrives, you’ll return to our office, we’ll make sure it fits comfortably, and we’ll give you some helpful instructions on how to care for it so it lasts.
Important note: Wearing your retainer as directed is important. If you don’t, then your chances of experiencing orthodontic relapse increases significantly.
