An Invisalign® Dentist Shares What Life is Like With Invisalign®

As a Texas Invisalign® dentist, we help to straighten our patients’ teeth. This is the clear way to move teeth into position and is just as effective as metal braces.  In order for the process to work, clear aligners are created in a dental lab.  The first aligner will be made to fit your teeth in their current positions.  The series of aligners is designed to work together so that each one moves your teeth that much closer to where they are supposed to stay.

The aligners look like a retainer that completely surrounds your teeth.  It is clear and will stay that way as long as you take care of it.  We recommend that you brush with a toothbrush and water only because toothpaste can scratch your aligner so that it is easier to see.  If you drink water only (while wearing them) there really is no way that the aligner can become stained or damaged.

For 22 hours a day you need to keep the aligner in so that your teeth can move into position.  This gives you enough time to eat and brush your teeth without interfering with your treatment process. We recommend that you don’t eat anything with your aligner in and that if you drink, you only drink water. Whatever you do, don’t drink anything hot because it can warp your aligners. As an Invisalign® dentist, we want you to get through your treatment as quickly and efficiently as possible so it is important that you keep your aligners in good condition.

One of the biggest challenges that people have is learning to not snack or drink coffee throughout the day while wearing their aligner.  If this is your normal habit, it can take some getting used to but you should save your snacking for during your two-hour breaks. As an added benefit, it could help to improve your health by preventing constant snacking.  If you must eat something with your aligner in, make sure that it is soft.

Since you can take your aligners out, life with Invisalign® is fairly easy.  You can still go to dinner, make a presentation at work, and do other important things without wearing them.  This allows you to enjoy life like you normally do.  The thing to remember is that if, for some reason, you wear your aligner for less than 22 hours a day, it will prolong your total treatment time so try to do this as little as possible.

When you take your aligners out to eat or brush your teeth, make sure that you keep it safe.  Many patients have lost their aligner to the garbage after accidentally putting it into a napkin.  We advise you to put it in a special case and keep it in your pocket or purse so that it can’t accidentally be tossed out.  We will give you a case at the beginning of your treatment that you can carry with you to use.