06 Dec 6 Invisalign Hacks That Will Make Your Treatment Better

Invisalign braces are highly effective at straightening teeth. However, if you want to get the most out of your Invisalign aligners, you need to use and maintain them in the proper manner. 

Curious as to what you can do to improve your treatment with Invisalign? Then, read on. Here are 6 Invisalign hacks that will make your treatment better. 

1. Write Your Treatment Into Your Schedule

One of the great things about Invisalign braces is that they can be removed. However, just as this can be a big positive, it can also be a big negative.

After all, what if you forget to put your Invisalign braces in before you start the day? You’ll be doing a huge disservice to your treatment. 

Well, there’s a way to help reduce this risk. Namely, you can write your Invisalign treatment into your schedule. This way, when you’re getting ready in the morning, you’ll just instinctually pop in your aligners after, say, brushing your teeth. 

It’s important that you wear your aligners no less than 22 hours a day. So, make sure to schedule verifications several times a day, including once in the morning, once before you go to sleep, and each and every time you eat a meal. 

2. Stick to the Scheduled Treatment

Invisalign treatment works in such a way that you need to wear designated aligners for a set period of time and then switch to another set of aligners once that time period has elapsed. If followed diligently, this treatment will enable you to straighten your teeth in the quickest manner possible. 

And that’s our second clear aligners hack: stick to the scheduled treatment. Keep up with the provided calendar and make changes on the days that they’re supposed to be made. 

Generally speaking, each set of aligners needs to be worn for 2 weeks straight. Of course, there can be some wiggle room from set to set. Don’t switch too late and don’t switch too soon; doing so will affect your treatment and will prolong the overall use of your Invisalign braces. 

3. Keep Your Old Aligners on Hand

You never know when you might lose your current set of aligners. Mistakes happen. As such, it’s best to keep your old aligners on hand so that you can maintain the current positioning of your teeth. 

If you were to completely forego the use of aligners until your missing ones were replaced, your teeth might very well shift back a few phases. That would drastically impair your timeline. 

By grabbing the pair you were wearing prior to your current pair, you can help to keep your teeth in place. This will tide you over until the replacement set is available. 

4. Take Steps to Quell Pain and Discomfort

Like all types of braces, Invisalign braces do cause some pain and discomfort. After all, they’re literally moving the teeth in your mouth. Some discomfort should be expected. 

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to fight against this discomfort. So, whenever pain starts to crop up, you should set some of these strategies into action. 

One strategy is to suck on ice whenever you take your aligners out. This will help reduce inflammation, not to mention numb your gums. 

Another strategy is to avoid foods that are hard or chewy, particularly when you’re already experiencing discomfort. Rest assured, these foods will exacerbate the problem. 

You could also take an over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen. This will help to numb some of the pain, making the experience much more manageable. 

Do you have aligners that are making contact with your mouth or gums? That’s a problem that will need to be handled by your dentist or orthodontist. 

5. Clean Your Aligners

This point can’t be overstated. In fact, it might just be the most important of hacks for Invisalign: clean your aligners. You have to keep your aligners clean. 

If you don’t clean your aligners, they’ll become overrun with bacteria. This bacteria will undoubtedly start to cling to your teeth, resulting in undue decay. Over time, this can lead to cavities and other such issues. 

So, before you go to bed at night, apply some antibacterial soap to your aligners and run them under a faucet. Make sure they get nice and sudsy and then dry them off entirely. This will kill the majority of the bacteria and make your aligners safe for use once again. 

If you wish, you could also simply brush your aligners with toothpaste. Note, though, that brushing too hard can cause damage. 

6. Wear Your Retainers As Instructed

Once your Invisalign treatment has ended, your teeth will be entirely straight. However, they won’t stay that way on their own. If you want your teeth to remain straight, it’s imperative that you wear your retainers as instructed. 

Generally speaking, retainers only need to be worn at night while you sleep. This is typically sufficient enough for keeping the teeth in place. 

As long as you wear your retainers consistently, they shouldn’t hurt your teeth at all. So, put them by your bedside and grab for them just before you lay your head down. The state of your teeth is dependent on it. 

Put These Invisalign Hacks to Good Use

If you want to get the most out of your Invisalign braces, you’re advised to put these Invisalign hacks to good use. Not only will they help to maintain your Invisalign braces but they’ll also optimize your treatment, allowing you to finish up as soon as possible. 

Are you looking to get Invisalign in the San Diego area? If so, we here at San Diego Invisalign are the people to see. 

Contact us now to schedule a free consultation!