Invisalign braces are clear plastic aligners that can move your teeth to correct a range of problems including crowded, gapped and sticking out teeth. If you’re contemplating this treatment you probably have a number of concerns about how they will impact on your everyday life and your lifestyle.
The truth is that, due to the discreet nature of Invisalign braces, the majority of people that you will encounter on a daily basis won’t even notice that you’re in the process of having your teeth straightened.
There are, however a few minor changes you may want to consider making to your everyday lifestyle to ensure that the Invisalign process runs as smoothly as possible and you get the best possible results.
Invisalign Braces and Your Diet
To keep your aligners looking their best, you should try to cut down on any food or drink that can stain your teeth, so say goodbye to tea, coffee, and red wine (or at least cut back on them!). The majority of treatments include the use of attachments, or enamel coloured ridges, which stick to your teeth like brace brackets to help enhance results. The aligners are coloured to match your teeth, however, they can stain relatively easily, so it’s worthwhile adjusting you diet accordingly. Sugary and alcoholic drinks can also lead to the build up of plaque so, again, it’s worth cutting back on them.
Invisalign and Dental Hygiene
When you’re wearing your aligners, it’s even more important than usual that you brush your teeth – and often. Plaque and food particles cannot only get in the way of the teeth moving, but they can also cause bad breath and cavities. With this in mind, you should brush your teeth every time you eat and, if brushing isn’t practical, you should at least wash your mouth out with water.
Invisalign and Make-up
If you usually wear brightly coloured lipsticks or lip glosses, you might want to tone down your colour palette for the duration of your treatment. Coloured lip-glosses and lipsticks can stick to your aligners and attachments.
Invisalign Braces and Speech
When you’re wearing your aligners, you might find that you experience some speech problems, particularly during the early stages as your mouth adjusts to them. Any speech problems should resolve themselves within a few weeks, but you should practice speaking aloud in the meantime to ensure you adjust as quickly as possible.
Socialising with Invisalign
Your aligners must be worn for at least 22 hours a day, meaning you will need to wear them during work, rest, and play! However, the braces are designed to be as discreet as possible and, when you’re wearing them, they are almost invisible in your mouth. So you really don’t need to feel self-conscious or feel that you cant enjoy your usual bustling social life whilst wearing them!
If you’re considering Invisalign treatments, speak to your dentist about how they might impact on your lifestyle.