Straighten Your Teeth Without Anyone Knowing
Do you want to straighten your teeth, but you’re not a fan of metal braces? If you’re looking to straighten your teeth without anyone knowing, read on. We’ve got the solution for you.
Now that you’re wearing Invisalign® trays to create a lovely smile, be sure to take good care of the aligners. Dr. Vilderman, a leading provider of the Invisalign system, can show you how to maintain aligners so they remain clear and odor-free.
Invisalign is a flexible, plastic system of aligning trays that correct many dental problems. In the past, only cemented, metal braces could move teeth. Now, you can achieve the smile you desire with gentle, virtually invisible aligners that don’t cut into your gums or cheeks.
Whereas metal braces are still the preferred choice for complicated dental problems, Invisalign trays can solve a host of dental issues such as:
Dr. Vilderman will listen to your concerns and aesthetic goals and work with you to create an Invisalign treatment plan. She’ll take impressions of your teeth, which will serve as the models for creating custom aligners that fit perfectly.
You should wear aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. The longer you wear them, the faster they’ll correct your teeth and your bite. You should remove the aligners when you eat and drink anything but cool water to avoid staining them, as well as when you want to attend an important event Invisalign-free.
Every 6 to 8 weeks, you’ll visit Dr. Vilderman for a progress report and to receive new aligners. The entire treatment typically takes 12 to 18 months, although every mouth is different.
The very qualities that you prize in Invisalign trays —they’re thin, flexible, removable, and invisible—make them particularly vulnerable to mistreatment and loss.
Here are tips on how to get the most from your Invisalign trays.
You can damage your aligners if you yank them out of your mouth. The best way to remove trays is to use your fingertips to unclasp aligners from your back molars first. Then, work your way forward, removing the tray from each tooth.
If you clean aligners correctly, they’ll stay clear and odor-free. But if you’re not diligent, your aligners can become discolored and foul-smelling.
Rinse trays under cool water whenever you remove them. (Never use hot water, which can warp them.) Whenever you brush your teeth, brush trays with a soft-bristle toothbrush; a hard-bristle brush can scratch them.
You should soak trays daily. Invisalign offers its own cleaning crystals designed to remove plaque and bacteria from trays. You also can soak trays in a gentle denture solution.
Once in a while, wash trays with a colorless, antibacterial soap, which will help fight the bacteria that cause plaque.
Whenever you remove aligners, stow them in their Invisalign case. If you keep the case in the same spot, you’ll never forget where it is.
If you have any questions on how to care for your Invisalign trays, contact Dr. Vilderman at 415-665-7800.
