How to Ensure a Successful Treatment
Since they’re removable, Invisalign makes it easy to care for your aligners. However, it’s still crucial to keep a few things in mind if you want to avoid setting back your treatment.
Explore our guide to learn some helpful tips from Dr. Grussmark on maintaining your aligners.
Meal Times
One major drawback of traditional braces is that the metal wires prevent you from enjoying certain foods. They also offer an easy trap for food crumbs and other bacteria, making it difficult to keep your braces clean.
Invisalign aligners are removable so you can take them out before meals, allowing you to eat and drink without restrictions. You also won’t have to worry about getting food stuck in your aligners.
In order for your treatment to succeed, you’ll need to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy three meals a day, though you’ll need to refrain from too much snacking.
While you may need to adjust your habits a little at first, you’ll find that eating with Invisalign is easy and convenient.
Cleaning Your Aligners
To maintain your aligners, remove and clean them every morning when you wake up and every night before you go to bed. You can clean the aligners by soaking them or lightly brushing them with a mild soap. It’s also crucial to brush your teeth after meals before putting your aligners back in.
For the best results, we recommend the Invisalign Cleaning System. Simply place your aligners in a case filled with warm water and customized cleaning crystals, then gently shake the case for 20 seconds. After letting your aligners soak for 15 minutes, gently shake the case for another 20 seconds and rinse them off to complete the process.
Common Mistakes
Unfortunately, some patients don’t follow instructions and end up damaging their aligners as a result. To help you prevent this from occurring, we’ve listed some common mistakes below:
- Don’t eat or drink with your aligners in (except water)
- Don’t use toothpaste, mouthwash, or any rough or colored soap on your aligners
- Don’t remove your aligners for more than 4 hours per day
- Don’t put your aligners back in after meals until you’ve brushed your teeth
- Don’t leave your aligners in the open when you’re not wearing them
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get Invisalign?
You can receive Invisalign from any Invisalign provider. Dentists must undergo additional training to provide the treatment in their office. While any qualified dentist can provide Invisalign, Dr. Grussmark is the only Diamond Plus provider in South Florida – completing over 400 Invisalign cases per year.
In addition to having extensive experience with Invisalign, Dr. Grussmark is a seasoned orthodontist. He has a clear understanding of how to direct the movement of teeth to achieve the desired results. Even if you’ve been told in the past that you don’t qualify for Invisalign, Dr. Grussmark may be able to straighten your smile clearly.
If I have existing restorations, such as crowns and bridges, can I get Invisalign?
If you have existing restorations, you may still be a good candidate for Invisalign. Whether or not we can straighten your teeth with Invisalign depends on several factors, such as the type of restoration you have and your smile goals.
While we typically don’t have any issues with crowns, dental bridges can be resistant to movement. The best way to know if you’re a candidate is to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Grussmark.
During the consultation, Dr. Grussmark will examine your oral health to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for Invisalign. If Invisalign isn’t the best treatment option for you, Dr. Grussmark can recommend alternative options, such as traditional braces.
Ask Dr. Grussmark for Invisalign Care Tips
If you follow the tips we’ve listed above, you’ll achieve the spectacular results you expect without any issues. Call our office in Brickell at 786-563-4973 and schedule a free consultation with Dr. Grussmark today.