Being an Invisalign patient is a lifestyle. When you commit to this treatment, you learn quickly how wearing the trays fits into your world and what adjustments you might need to make to get the most out of the alignment method. Find out whether living with Invisalign is right for you by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Brigham Baker and his team at Impressions Dental in Chandler, AZ.
Eating with Invisalign
There are no food restrictions when you’re living with Invisalign. You can eat whatever you want whenever you want. You must, however, remove the trays before any meal or snack and only leave them out for 30 to 60 minutes at a time.
Don’t be tempted to eat even a small snack with Invisalign in place. You’ll risk damaging the thermoplastic and could end up with food stuck in the trays, making them look and smell awful. At times you may find that your teeth feel sensitive and your gums tender when you’re eating – this means the trays are doing their job but it might mean the crunchy and chewy foods must wait until things stabilize.
Sleeping with Invisalign
Going to sleep with Invisalign is easy. It’s the easiest time of day to wear the trays. They must be on your teeth every night since you’re ideally getting a solid six to seven hours of rest – and the aligners are working hard without interruption.
Bedtime is also the ideal moment to switch to new aligners because you’ll be asleep when the greatest discomfort of wearing new trays occurs. You’ll wake up having made so much progress already on your treatment and all you did was get some sleep.
Cleaning Invisalign
Invisalign is low-maintenance when it comes to cleaning. The trays should be soaked daily with cleaning tablets or crystals and rinsed and brushed every time they leave your mouth and before they are put back in place. These efforts – which take only minutes – ensure that the aligners stay clear and do not become stained or discolored. Plus, your teeth and trays aren’t nestled tightly together which reduces the chances of bacteria eating away at tooth enamel.
Socializing with Invisalign
A night out with friends or family, a date with someone new, dinner and dessert, or drinks at the club, whoever you socialize with and however you socialize, Invisalign will not get in the way. The trays must be worn 20 to 22 hours a day, which leaves time for removing the trays for meals, snacks, and cleaning. You can budget this time into your socializing hours, or comfortably leave the trays in place. Just remember that water is the only beverage you can drink with the aligners in your mouth.
Going to Work with Invisalign
Whatever your line of work, it’s natural to have concerns that wearing clear aligners could interfere with your professional life. Don’t worry. The trays are so slim and see-through they fit snugly against the teeth and live there discreetly whether you’re selling or introducing or teaching, whether you’re in-person or over the phone or video. You’ll look the same, but your teeth will continue to get better.
Going to School with Invisalign
Whether you’re an adult student or an adolescent with Invisalign Teen, there is one thing to always carry in your backpack: An Invisalign on-the-go kit. What to include? A toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and a case, at the very least. Your dentist can advise you on what you will find yourself needing throughout each day.
