Have you decided to straighten your teeth with Invisalign and want to know more about what to expect during treatment? You will be pleasantly surprised that daily oral hygiene is a breeze with these removable aligners. Dr. Roli Vig of Trinity Family Dental in Whitby, ON shares tips for keeping your mouth clean while Invisalign corrects misalignment.
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In treatment you advance through a series of transparent, computer-designed plastic aligners created from digital impressions of your mouth. Gentle pressure moves teeth incrementally, for an attractive smile that contributes to improved oral health. While treatment is highly personalized, it is typically completed in about a year with good patient compliance (wearing aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily).
Keep a clean mouth during Invisalign treatment in Whitby, ON
- In the morning, remove aligners and place them on a clean towel.
- Brush teeth normally.
- Rinse one aligner with cool or tepid water. Moisten a soft child’s toothbrush reserved for this purpose and add a dab of clear antibacterial hand soap. Brush the aligner gently, rinse, and reinsert. Repeat with the other aligner. Please do not use hot water which may warp the plastic; your regular toothbrush and paste as it will scratch aligners; or tinted soap that may stain.
- It is fine to drink plain water with aligners in, but no other beverages. They stain aligners and trap sugar next to teeth, contributing to decay and gum disease.
- Take aligners out to eat and drink. Ideally rinse them with cool water before placing in their storage case while you dine. If you wrap aligners in a napkin, they are likely to get thrown in the trash!
- Brush teeth right after eating and reinsert aligners immediately.
- Before bedtime, remove aligners. Floss teeth thoroughly, then brush teeth, clean aligners, and reinsert.
- About once a week, soak aligner in denture cleanser or Invisalign crystals dissolved in water. This provides a higher level of sanitization, reducing risks of mouth irritation or breath odor.
Do you have additional questions about Invisalign treatment? Call Trinity Family Dental in Whitby, ON at [phone] to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vig.
