11 things you need to know before receiving Invisalign braces

Nowadays, many people opt for orthodontic procedures to improve their appearance and go with Invisalign braces as they are effective and invisible to the eyes. However, before receiving this orthodontic treatment, you need to learn thoroughly about it. The following article will provide you with 11 things you need to know before getting clear braces.

1. Your teeth may need more attachments

The dentist can bound more teeth-colored composite attachments to your teeth. These attachments help create pressure for teeth to move more easily. Without the aligners, these attachments are almost invisible. However, if the aligners are in, it will look like you are wearing clear braces.

You may need only 2 attachments but some cases require up to 20 of them. The number depends on the state of your teeth.

2. The advised wear time is 22 hours per day

Many people think that they will need to wear the aligners for many hours a day. However, dentists recommend wearing them for at least 22 hours a day and remove them before you eat or drink. Like any other orthodontic treatments, wearing Invisalign requires you to change your lifestyle to achieve the desired results. If you don’t wear them for long enough, you may not get the optimal results or it may take you longer.

3. You may lose weight

As you have to wear the aligners for 22 hours, you only 2 hours left for eating. During the treatment, you can still have your favorite foods. However, having to remove the braces before eating will cause much inconvenience, trouble, and hence, make you eat less. This can result in weight loss for several first weeks but it can be improved after that so don’t worry too much.

4. Say goodbye to lipsticks

Colored lip glosses and lipsticks can easily stain your aligners and the attachments. Clear lip balm and gloss may not cause this problem. However, they can leave a waxy residue on your aligners. 

5. Limit getting manicures

It is a challenge to remove aligners without using your nails. If you won’t want to have chipped nails, refrain from getting manicures during the treatment.

6. Kissing feels weird

Many people share that wearing aligners affect their love life to some level, saying they feel weird when kissing. It is because you are not used to having aligners in your mouth. It will get better after some time and you won’t feel as strange when kissing.

7. You’ll have to brush your teeth many times a day

If you are wearing Invisalign, you may have to brush teeth 6 times or even 12 times a day. This is because plaque and food particles can block the moving of teeth, causing more trouble. Besides, they might result in several serious problems such as bad breath or tooth decay. Brush right after eating and don’t forget to do the same every night before sleep.

8. The attachments can get discolored easily

Tea and coffee will stain the composite attachments on your teeth. Therefore, brush your teeth immediately after having colored foods and drinks.

9. Only drink cold water

When you are wearing Invisalign, you can only drink water. Hot drinks such as tea can discolor and distort the aligners. Sugary or alcoholic beverages can also lead to plaque buildup. Therefore, take what you drink in consideration to ensure good results as well as maintain the condition of the aligners.

10. Teeth whitening is not recommended

While having Invisalign, especially when you have many attachments on teeth, don’t receive any teeth whitening procedure. Brushing regularly together with limiting teeth-staining foods also help restore the color of your teeth and protect the enamel.

11. The refinement period

Most people believe that their Invisalign treatment is complete after wearing 40 aligners. However, that is not true. You will still have to go through another “refinement” period. It is used to make sure that your teeth won’t continue to move after the treatment. You will need to wear retainers from 3 months to 1 year depending on the type of procedure you go with.

Although Invisalign brings quite many disadvantages, it is still one of the most effective, less painful, and highly invisible treatments among the many types of dental braces. However, before receiving any orthodontics, it is important to learn thoroughly about the treatments as well as consult with the dentist to determine the right one for you.

Learn more: How to prevent overbite after wearing braces?