Invisalign is a popular teeth straightening system that eliminates the need for wires by using plastic alignment trays to align your teeth to their proper position. These trays are made of clear material that is designed to be invisible when seated on your teeth. Just snap them to your teeth and the trays do the rest, slowly repositioning your teeth until they are no longer crooked or out of alignment.
But using Invisalign is a commitment that requires routine maintenance, sacrifice, and repetition if the treatment is going to be successful. For some consumers, that may be asking too much while others might find Invisalign to be a welcome alternative to traditional braces. These are some of the potential lifestyle changes that come with choosing Invisalign to straighten your teeth.
Changes in Diet
You won’t need to make major adjustments in the types of food and drink you consume, but there are a few restrictions that should be applied during your Invisalign treatments. Anything that can stain your teeth is going to stain or discolor the alignment trays, which will severely reduce the invisibility of the trays over your teeth. So it’s best to avoid coffee, red wine, colored foods and other substances like tobacco that have the potential to stain teeth.
Dedicated Brushing
Brushing your teeth is essential to good oral health, but it’s even more important when you’re wearing Invisalign. Since the trays are removable for when you eat, replacing them should only be done after you’ve thoroughly brushed your teeth. Otherwise you could be promoting gum disease and gingivitis by placing your trays over dirty teeth.
Long Periods of Use
It is suggested that you wear your Invisalign trays for 22 hours a day in order for the treatments to work effectively. Some dentists may adjust that time frame but it means you’re going to be wearing the trays just about all the time. The purpose for going with this form of tooth alignment is due to their invisibility so you can wear them anywhere. But that still means you need to plan your day when it comes to eating, drinking, brushing and so on.
Cost
Invisalign is often the preferred method of teeth straightening over standard braces, mainly because they are undetectable. This perk does make them more expensive than regular braces and you need to consider whether or not you can afford the system before you commit to it with your dentist.
