3 Ways You Can Ruin Your Invisalign Treatment

Choosing Invisalign for your orthodontic treatment has major perks. This clear aligner system is nearly invisible to others and you can remove your trays when you absolutely need to (such as when you eat or brush your teeth). While Invisalign is an incredible smile-straightening solution, it is not invincible. This treatment demands a higher level of patient responsibility compared to traditional braces.

Here are some surefire ways to sabotage your Invisalign treatment:

#1 Removing your aligners too often

While Invisalign offers highlighted convenience and the freedom to remove your aligners, this shouldn’t be taken advantage of. To stay on track with your treatment, you’ll need to wear your aligners at least 22 hours out of the day. Try to only remove them when eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.

#2 Poor Cleaning Habits

Since you’ll take out your aligners to clean your teeth and gums, you’ll need to disinfect your aligners separately. This prevents staining and trapped bacteria that can cause decay and gum disease. It is important to follow your dentist’s instructions for cleaning Invisalign. Never use hot water and bleach to soak your aligners, as this can warp the plastic and disfigure your trays. A soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste typically works just fine.

#3 Eating with your Invisalign aligners

While we don’t want you to take out your aligners too often, we also don’t want you to keep them in when you shouldn’t – such as when you have food in your mouth. Invisalign is not designed to handle the pressures of biting and chewing food. In result, you can end up with cracked or degraded aligners that do more harm than good.

Schedule Your Invisalign Consult Today!

For nearly every patient we meet, Invisalign is an easy and successful treatment. However, if you are not sure you can commit to the responsibility of wearing and cleaning your aligners correctly, you may be a better candidate for a different orthodontic treatment. At DNTL Hub, we are happy to further explain the benefits and risks of Invisalign as it pertains to your specific smile and phase of life.