With your upcoming Invisalign treatment, you probably already know that you can expect a healthy, beautiful smile and a more discreet, comfortable treatment than you could with traditional braces. But there still may be a few things you don’t already realize. Here’s some information about Invisalign treatment that may come as a surprise.
It May Still Be Uncomfortable at First
While Invisalign treatment is generally found to be less painful than traditional braces, it still could cause a little discomfort, especially when you switch to a new set of aligners. The good news is that this typically only lasts a day or two and is easily managed with over-the-counter pain reliever.
You May Have Temporary Lisp
Until you get used to speaking with your new aligners, you may have a slight speech impediment. The good news is that this is only temporary, and with practice your speech should return to normal in less than a month.
Your Diet May Need Some Adjusting
If you’re a habitual snacker or grazer, you may want to reconsider how you divvy up your meals. That’s because with braces, you’ll need to take off your aligners each time you eat or drink anything but water. So, if you’re eating six or seven times a day, for example, you would need to not only have your aligners off each time, but you would also need to brush and floss your teeth each time you finished eating. With only a two-hour window of aligner-free time allowed each day, that doesn’t give you a lot of time for full meals.
Thus, be sure to divide your snack and mealtimes efficiently so that you have time to both enjoy your food and properly clean your teeth before putting your aligners back on.
Oral Hygiene Will Take Longer
Because you need to brush and floss every single time you eat or drink anything besides water (whether it’s a snack or a full meal) you will spend more time keeping your teeth clean with Invisalign than you would with braces. Be prepared to build in that time into your aligner-free time, and double up on care by doing things like soaking your trays while you eat so you don’t waste more time while they’re off.
You’re Journey Doesn’t End with Your Aligners
Once you’re done wearing your aligners, your treatment doesn’t simply end. For your next step, you will need to wear a retainer like your trays to maintain your results. For the first month, you will likely need to wear them round the clock; however, after a month or so you will be able to wear them only during the night. This will help keep your teeth from shifting back into their original, pre-treatment positioning.
Remember, although Invisalign is much easier and more comfortable to wear than traditional braces, you will still need to make some minor lifestyle adjustments for a successful treatment. The great news is that the final results will be well worth it!
About Our Practice
At Complete Dental Care, we are proud to provide orthodontic solutions like Invisalign. Part of what makes your treatment a success is knowing everything you can about it before you begin. That’s why we strive to be as informative as possible, so you’ll never need to worry about what to expect from your care or your journey.
To schedule an appointment for Invisalign, please visit our website or call us today at 425-310-4175.