7 Things To Know About Getting Invisalign

If you don’t feel 100% confident in your smile and would love straighter teeth, you’ve probably heard of Invisalign clear aligners. The treatment is pricey but effective and often achieves quick results, we’ve put together this guide to give you the facts to help you decide if Invisalign is right for you. Aligners is another site to read reviews for different types of teeth aligners besides Invisalign.

#1 Consultation

Book an initial consultation with any dentist who offers Invisalign treatment. At your appointment your mouth will be scanned using a device that basically gets a 3D photo of your mouth. From there, the technology can determine how long it will take to straighten your teeth and you’ll get to see an image of what your future smile could look like. Invisalign technology is now so advanced that many patients who were unsuitable for the treatment 4 or 5 years ago are now eligible. 

#2 Pain

Expect some pain but nothing unbearable! As your teeth move you will naturally get some discomfort, this will be most obvious every time you change your aligners. Your dentist will advise how often they should be changed (usually weekly or every 2 weeks) and as the shape of each aligner is slightly straighter than the last, this is what forces your teeth to straighten up! Also, you may experience a slight lisp when talking, you’ll get used to it and it is definitely more noticeable to you than it is to anyone else. 

#3 Eating

The great thing about Invisalign compared to other cheap teeth aligners and fixed braces is that the aligners are removable! You must remove them when you eat or drink anything (except water) as they can stain easily, which is not a good look. The not-so-great thing is you also MUST brush your teeth after eating or drinking. Do this before you insert the aligners back in your mouth or bacteria can easily grow as it is trapped between the aligner and the teeth. Also, to get the most movement and best results, you should wear your aligners 22 hours a day. Cue a LOT of teeth brushing, and a lot less snacking.

#4 Cleaning

To be straight up, having aligners in your mouth 22 hours a day takes some getting used to. To make things feel as normal as possible you’ll want to make sure they are clean with a capital C. Make sure you brush your aligners properly morning and night, and, if possible, any other time you brush. At the very least try to rinse them before you pop them back in and your mouth will feel 10 times fresher. 

#5 Attachments

This is the part a lot of people don’t realize – a lot of Invisalign patients need attachments on their teeth. Attachments are tiny tooth-colored shapes that are glued onto your teeth in precise locations which will grip onto your aligners and help with movement. You may get attachments at the beginning of your treatment or at any point during. They are barely noticeable but can be sharp. The inside of your mouth can get sore as there may be some friction from the attachments, but this should toughen up after a few weeks. Investing in a mouth gel is advised at this point. 

#6 Retainers

The length of treatment will vary depending on how much and how quickly your teeth move. Some people get results in a few months, others can take a few years. When your treatment is finished, your attachments will be removed, and you’ll be given final retainers which you MUST wear every night…forevermore. If you want it all to be worth it, this will not be a big deal. Invisalign also offers a 5-year warranty, so if your teeth move or you feel your results could be better, speak to your dentist ASAP. 

#7 Things You’ll Need 

Since you’re now a tooth brushing, oral hygiene obsessive; it’s a good idea to have these things handy at all times:

• Invisalign aligner case – this should be given to you at the start of your treatment. Use it to store your aligners any time you’re eating/drinking. 
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Metal straws – for easy, stain-free drinking
• Hand sanitizer - be prepared to have your hands IN your mouth a lot
• Mouth gel – for any ulcers or sores caused by attachments
• Denture cleaner – pop your aligners in some warm water with a fizzy denture-cleaning tablet once or twice a week for extra cleaning
• Floss – this is your new best friend; you now worship floss. 

Hopefully this answers some Invisalign questions and helps you on your way to straight AF teeth!

Next up, Get That Makeup Sponge Clean!