Are you about to begin treatment for Invisalign in San Diego? At Landmark Dental, we’ll provide you special home care instructions to follow between your visits with our dentist in San Diego CA. Aside from your regular oral hygiene routine and taking your aligners out to eat, here are six important tips to follow.
Wear Your Aligners for the Length of Time Prescribed
Not keeping your Invisalign in long enough during the day could delay your treatment. And jumping ahead to the next set of trays (in the hopes of speeding things along) can be dangerous to your teeth, tooth roots, and the bone around them. Invisalign is backed by 20+ years of research, so follow your wear instructions as prescribed. Usually, that means wearing your aligners for 22+ hours a day and changing them out every two weeks. Moving your teeth any quicker than that could be dangerous.
Don’t Drink Anything Other Than Water…
…with your Invisalign trays in. Water is completely safe if it coats your teeth or spills underneath your aligners against your enamel. But other liquids are not. Everything from dark, stain-causing coffee to acidic sports drinks can wreak havoc on your teeth. Especially if you’re wearing your Invisalign trays while you’re drinking. According to our dentist in San Diego CA, the best thing to do is take your aligners out when drinking anything other than water, then rinse your mouth thoroughly before putting your Invisalign trays back in.
Don’t Let Your Aligners Melt
Your Invisalign trays are made of a special type of plastic material. What does plastic do when it’s exposed to high temperatures? It warps and melts, distorting the original shape. The same thing can happen with your Invisalign trays if you leave them in the car on a hot day, clean them with too warm of water, or have them sitting near some type of heat source. If they warp, you’re out of luck! That’s why we tell you to only use lukewarm water when cleaning them each day.
Clean Your Teeth and Aligners Twice a Day
Just like your teeth, it’s important to clean your Invisalign trays routinely. Plan to use Invisalign crystals, denture cleanser, antimicrobial soap, or tap water. Just be sure to avoid hot water or harsh chemicals. Steer clear of using toothpaste on your Invisalign appliances, as they could slightly scratch them and lead to extra stain buildup.
When choosing Invisalign near you, make sure you’re also keeping up with your regular six-month checkups. Keeping your smile free of tartar buildup and gingivitis will improve your oral health, reduce bad breath, plus limit stain and buildup inside of your trays.
Keeps Your Invisalign Out of the Reach of Pets
For whatever reason, pets — particularly dogs — love to chew up dental appliances. Whether it’s an Invisalign tray, denture, retainer, or something else, it’s like a magnetic chew toy they just can’t get away from.
Make a habit to always keep your Invisalign trays out of the reach of pets (and young children while you’re at it.) They should either be in your mouth, in a storage case, or soaking in the container you use to clean them. Don’t ever leave your aligner sitting on the counter or your nightstand.
Once Treatment is Over, Wear Your Retainer
With Invisalign in San Diego, you can finally achieve the straight, healthy smile you’ve always wanted. Your time and energy will pay off, as long as you do everything you can to maintain your results once the treatment is completed. That means wearing your retainer when you go to sleep at night. In the earlier days, you may need to wear it more frequently, but as the years go by, you’ll have to wear it less often.
Invisalign Near You
Looking for Invisalign near you? Landmark Dental is your home for comprehensive adult and teen Invisalign. Contact our dentist in San Diego today to reserve a consultation!