Being a Diamond Plus Provider, our Grand Rapids Invisalign® orthodontists know all there is to know about wearing . This of course includes the honest truths that each patient considering Invisalign must understand before moving forward with treatment. Though they’re not metal braces, aligners do still require some tradeoffs for that beautiful end result.
Here are a few aspects to remember when choosing Invisalign clear aligners for your smile.
With Invisalign, Keep in Mind That:
1) You Must Wear Your Aligners as Told
With regular braces, there is no taking those off unless you’ve completed your treatment. They are securely attached to your teeth and only our orthodontists or one of our staff members can remove them.
Clear aligners are different. For one, they’re removable! When you need to eat, brush your teeth, or floss, you simply take them out and place them in their protective case. Unfortunately, the ability to easily remove them has its downside.
If you’re not committed to your treatment, it can be more than a little tempting to leave your aligners out for too long. However, successful results can only be attained if each set of aligners stay in place for 20-22 hours every day. Our orthodontists strongly recommend you follow this rule or you risk delaying your progress.
Need help keeping track of the time your aligners are out for a meal? Try the “hack” where you set a timer. That way, when it rings later you are held accountable and can keep your treatment on schedule.
Read More Tips → 5 Invisalign® “Hacks” to Remember
2) You May Develop a Slight Lisp
Have you ever worn a retainer before? If so, you may be familiar with how it can slightly change the way you sound when you speak. Thankfully, Invisalign is much thinner than many retainers or mouth guards but aligners may still create a minor lisp when in place.
The good news is that not every patient develops a lisp and for many, it goes away as they move through treatment. Regardless, it is typically minor to begin with (if it even happens) and should not deter you from choosing Invisalign.
3) Drinking Coffee Will Require Extra Steps
Ah, delicious coffee in the morning. Don’t worry, it’s still possible with Invisalign but it does get complicated if you need more than one cup. This goes more for the adult orthodontic patients and less for those in their teenage years, but it’s still something to be aware of.
Every time you drink a beverage that isn’t water, our orthodontists recommend that you first remove your aligners. Otherwise, you can stain the plastic and ruin the nearly invisible appearance. You should also brush your teeth if possible and rinse the aligners before putting them back in your mouth.
Learn More → How to Clean Your Invisalign® Aligners
This can of course become a hassle if you require that extra jolt in the early hours of the day. With time, you can adapt to the new procedure of removing the aligners, brushing your teeth, and putting them back in. It’ll just take some patience and hey, it might help you cut back on caffeine.
4) You’ll Have to (Temporarily) Say Goodbye to Mindless Snacking
When you’re watching a good tv show or movie, it’s easy to munch on a snack while you relax. However, with in place, the activity of snacking becomes a bit more difficult.
Think about it. The aligners are in your mouth for up to 22 hours a day. There isn’t much time left for snacks when the hours leftover are already dedicated to larger meals. Now, if you’re trying to cut down on snacking, having Invisalign may be a blessing in disguise. Otherwise, you may want to ask our orthodontists about metal, LightForce customized clear, or ceramic braces instead.
Ask About Starting Invisalign Today
Our , love when patients are excited about the potential of their own smile. If you’d like to discuss how clear aligners might work for you, let’s start the conversation! Call Miller Orthodontics today at (616) 942-9320 to request an appointment.
This blog post has been updated.
