There are a lot of differences between straightening your teeth with braces and straightening your teeth with Invisalign in Edmonton. The two options for orthodontic treatment have at least one thing in common, though. Both braces and Invisalign take some getting used to. Getting used to wearing Invisalign won’t take long and won’t be too difficult, but here are half a dozen tips for getting through it comfortably.
Keep your tongue in mind
Invisalign’s aligners are made from a thermoplastic material called SmartTrack. During the first week or so while you are wearing your aligners, you may notice that your tongue becomes irritated by the edges of those aligners. You may also find that you experience irritation again when you switch to a new aligner. You can protect your tongue by putting a small amount of dental wax on the edges of the aligners. You can get dental wax from your dental clinic in Edmonton or from a pharmacy.
Try a chewie
If your new aligners don’t seem to fit properly, ask a dentist near you to supply you with a set of “chewies.” “Chewies” are small cylinder-shaped “cushions” made of a spongy material that come in different colours and flavours. You can help get your new aligners to sit more snugly and securely against your teeth by biting down on a chewie for five to 10 minutes a few times each day.
An exception to the “no chewing” rule
As a general rule, you should not eat or drink anything (except room temperature water) while wearing your Invisalign aligners. Here’s the exception that makes the rule: Movemints. Movemints are a special mint designed specifically for people wearing aligners from Invisalign in Edmonton. They’re a sugar-free but flavourful mint that helps people to adjust to wearing Invisalign aligners and simultaneously help to avoid dry mouth (xerostomia).
Pay attention to your aligner-free time
Never forget that your aligners only work to move your teeth while you’re wearing them. Your treatment plan and schedule for achieving straighter teeth will assume that you wear your aligners for 22 hours every day. The freedom to remove your aligners is one of the key advantages of obtaining Invisalign near you, but leaving them out for more than two hours a day will only delay your treatment plan. Considering you take your aligners out every time you eat and that you need to brush your teeth and clean your aligners before putting them back in your mouth, it’s easy to eat away at those 120 minutes a day. There’s good news, though. There’s an app for tracking your time without your aligners in place. “TrayMinder” is an example.
Care for your aligners
One of the other big advantages of Invisalign are the facts that the aligners are transparent and treatment with Invisalign is discreet. If, however, you fail to keep your aligners clean and free of plaque and food debris, those aligners can become dirty and even malodorous — smelly. To keep your aligners transparent and discrete, follow these guidelines every time you remove your aligners: rinse the aligners; scrub the aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste; soak your aligners in a special cleaning solution called Retainer Brite or something similar (do this step as directed and not necessarily every time); and, if you do use a cleaning product, rinse your aligner before returning them to your teeth.
If you experience any sensations or experiences during your first days and weeks with Invisalign, contact your dentist. You should feel confident that your adjustment period will be relatively short and easy, but that’s no reason not to communicate with a dentist if there’s anything you’re concerned about.
