6 Things to Know About Invisalign Before Getting Started

By Dr. Michael Handler

1. Wearing aligners is a full-time commitment.

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 dentist, every day. You should only ever take them out to eat, or to brush and floss.It can be tempting to remove these aligners 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 like braces.

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. But you should be able to get used to talking with aligners pretty fast.

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 bad breath.

5. They can stain.

Your Invisalign aligners have the potential to stain when exposed to certain drinks or food, and not look so discreet if they get stained. To avoid staining, you should remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything except water, and brush your teeth before putting your aligners back in.

6. They are pretty comfortable.

Invisalign aligners are normally quite comfortable to wear. You may feel some pressure on your teeth when you change trays, but for most people, the feeling is very minimal and goes away fast.

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