Everything You Need to Know About Living with Invisalign Braces

Having a beautiful smile plays a critical role in increasing attractiveness and confidence. But many teens and adults who are interested in straightening their teeth shy away from getting braces — often due to concerns about wearing metal brackets. Invisalign braces give adults an affordable way to straighten their teeth without having to deal with unattractive metal wires. Over 45% of teens who opted for Invisalign experienced improved self-esteem. We have years of experience working with patients to improve their smiles. Over time, we’ve noticed that the same questions tend to come up over and over, so we decided to provide a bit of help. Read on for more information about living with Invisalign braces.

Will people notice that I’m wearing an Invisalign aligner?

Most patients report that people can’t see the trays from a distance. Those sitting or standing close to you, however, may be able to discern that you’re wearing Invisalign braces. Patients usually remove the trays during meals and for important meetings or events. And wearing Invisalign braces can also have a minor impact on your speech, as some patients report an increased tendency to lisp when wearing these aligners.

Stay on top of oral hygiene

You’ll need to brush your teeth every time that you eat or drink to protect your teeth during the straightening process. Don’t forget to rinse your trays with warm water before and after you put them in or take them out. For more serious build-up, a foaming denture cleaner will usually do the job. Remember that you’ll replace your old trays with new ones every few weeks.

You’ll need to wear the aligners

For best results, you’ll need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day, every day — for the entire course of treatment. The process will still work as long as you keep your aligner in for at least 20 hours per day, but most orthodontists recommend wearing the appliance as much as possible.

The process can be uncomfortable

Believe it or not, having your teeth straightened can be unpleasant. Orthodontists straighten smiles by applying constant pressure to encourage a patients’ teeth to move into a new position. Many patients experience discomfort when starting on a new aligner — just as those with metal braces often have tender gums after adjustments. Some patients insert new aligners at night so they can sleep through the worst of the discomfort.