Are you among the lucky 35% of the population with straight front teeth?
If not, don’t be disheartened; you aren’t alone. The Invisalign experience is here to remodel your smile and improve oral health.
In this blog, we take a closer look at:
- What Is Invisalign?
- Insight Behind The Invisalign Treatment
- What Can I Expect After Invisalign Braces?
- How Can I Tell When My Invisalign Treatment Is Completed?
- Tips For A Healthy Smile Post Invisalign
Introduction:
You must’ve imagined this moment for so long; what happens after Invisalign? What would it look or feel like once the trays are off?
Well, the result of an Invisalign is a flawless smile. It’s a great moment to look forward to at the end of your treatment.
Interestingly, however, that’s not the end of your treatment. Once the Invisalign braces are removed, you must ensure your teeth remain straight.
The following sections explore the different aspects of Invisalign on teeth. Let’s get started.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a great alternative to traditional braces. While Invisalign looks like plastic, these clear, transparent oral appliances are made using a blend of thermoplastic polymers.
They are customized for individual applicants to apply pressure to specific areas of their teeth. Over time, these invisible aligners shift your teeth to a better position.
Interestingly, many people remain confused about how to get Invisalign.
Well, the process is pretty straightforward. To get Invisalign, you need to first consult with your dentist.
These oral experts will examine your overall oral health, smile, and take impressions of your mouth. Once done, the aligners are customized to fit the mouth and create a comprehensive treatment plan to achieve a flawless smile.
Insight Behind The Invisalign Treatment
Invisalign was created as an alternative to conventional braces. The procedure uses invisible braces to remove the gap between your teeth and align it in a significantly less intrusive manner than traditional braces. This way, the appliance straightens the teeth in a visually appealing manner.
Invisalign employs several aligner trays that are replaced over a fixed period. Each new tray will feel different since they are designed to continue shifting and repositioning your teeth for a perfect smile.
What Can I Expect After Invisalign Braces?
Once done, Invisalign results in a perfect smile!
Interestingly, however, there are a few things that you still need to do. For instance, your orthodontist will want you to wear the retainer for twenty-two hours every day for the first six months since you’ll be getting used to Invisalign by then.
Following that (depending on a short inspection), they may remove your retainer. After that, you will still need to wear it exclusively at night for six months. Once you’ve worn retainers for a year, your jawbone should be totally or nearly completely repaired.
However, if you want your teeth to stay in their new position, you should use retainers, specifically at night. You should use them for at least three nights weekly for six months.
Besides, as soon as you complete the Invisalign treatment, focus on its regular maintenance. We suggest this because care is ideal for maintaining alignment and oral health.
Remember, improper or lack of maintenance can result in:
- Teeth gaps
- Crooked teeth
- Poor oral health.
Now that you know what to expect after Invisalign, let’s see how you can tell whether the treatment is complete.
How Can I Tell When My Invisalign Treatment Is Completed?
While there’s a significant difference between Invisalign before and after, there is a common misconception among individuals who opt for the treatment.
Taking off aligners before therapy is a common mistake in patients undergoing Invisalign treatment. This is undesirable because it may result in misalignments and teeth that are not completely repaired. Therefore, it’s always wise not to remove your aligners until your orthodontist approves.
As mentioned earlier, Invisalign therapy straightens your teeth swiftly. This implies that treatment will be completed faster, especially when compared to traditional braces treatment time. Therefore, taking your aligners out too soon may cause your teeth to slip out of place.
Tips For A Healthy Smile Post Invisalign
1. Wear A Retainer
You must wear a retainer to keep your smile intact for aligners before and after. Retainers are custom-made orthodontic equipment to keep teeth in place following orthodontic treatment.
They are frequently constructed from wires or translucent acrylic. If you do not wear your retainer after receiving Invisalign aligners, your teeth will return to their original position.
2. Brush & Floss Regularly
Continue your usual brushing and flossing practice during treatment to keep your aligners clean and prevent oral health complications. Besides, cleaning your teeth as soon as possible after each meal is essential to eliminate food particles and prevent them from becoming lodged in your aligners.
3.Clean Your Mouth Thoroughly
Brushing your teeth daily and adequately is important for good oral hygiene. Remove any food debris that may have been lodged between your teeth. You may also rinse your mouth with clean water or mouthwash to ensure that your mouth is clean.
4.Avoid Troublesome Foods
When having Invisalign treatment, it is best to avoid chewy, crunchy, sticky, and hard foods. This is because part of it may stay on your teeth even after cleaning them. Avoid food items like chewing gum, licorice, caramel, jawbreakers, and jelly beans.
5.Clean Your Retainer
The easiest way to ensure clean retainers is to regularly immerse them in denture cleanser or Invisalign. On the other hand, the simplest way to keep retainers clear is to clean them using a toothbrush and wash them with liquid detergent. White vinegar may also be used to dissolve plaque and germs while also deodorizing your retainers.
Takeaway
- Invisalign was created as an alternative to conventional braces.
- Invisalign before and after with time frame results in a flawless, resilient smile.
- Taking off aligners before therapy is a common mistake in patients undergoing Invisalign treatment.
- The easiest way to ensure clean retainers is to regularly immerse them in denture cleanser or Invisalign.