Look at how clear your Invisalign® aligners are on your teeth. They truly are invisible. Nobody is going to notice that you are straightening your teeth until they come off and the job is done! Aren’t you glad that you don’t live “in the olden days” when the only option was to get a mouthful of metal?
Well, now that you have them, you must take good care of them so that they last and stay clear and invisible to the naked eye. Here are a few tips from the experts:
-You should never eat or drink when them in your mouth. It may seem like it wouldn’t be a big deal to eat soft foods or at least drink liquids while wearing your aligners, but this is a bad idea. Except for drinking cold water, there are things that can warp the aligner (hot liquids and food) and many things that can stain. Coffee, tea, red wine, etc., will turn your invisible aligners into obvious discolored disasters. Best to avoid.
-Don’t leave food particles trapped between your teeth and the aligner. Whenever you cannot brush and floss after eating, rinsing your aligner and mouth with cool water before putting them back in is always a good idea. Of course, brushing and flossing before wearing is the ideal, and should be done daily, but you will not always be in a place where you can do it when you need to.
-Don’t use toothpaste or colored products to clean you aligner. Use only clear antibacterial soaps and soaking materials. Colored mouthwash is not a good idea. Such colored items will stain the aligner. Toothpaste contains abrasive materials and can in fact scratch the surface of your aligner which will show up clearly when you put them on. Another item to avoid.
-Don’t leave your aligners out on the bathroom counter. Don’t take the chance it will get lost, broken, or that your little brother will play a practical joke by putting something nasty in it.
If you’d like more information about Invisalign aligners, call Drs. Backiel and Sharkey and our team at Dr. Backiel and Associates. You can make an appointment at: 267-514-8100, or come by our office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.