Introduction
Are you someone who has started aligner treatment recently? Do you get confused about what you can eat and what you can’t while wearing aligners? Even though aligners have superior qualities that make them almost invincible, it is still important to take care of them.
Worry not! This article is your guiding light and will tell you all the tips and tricks required to safeguard your investment so it lasts for a long time.
Let us familiarize ourselves with what teeth aligners are and how they function before getting to know in depth about the dos and don’ts of wearing them.
What Are Invisible Braces?
Aligners are painless and custom-made mouth devices used to straighten crooked or gapped teeth and give you a beautiful smile. They are also known as invisible braces as they are almost clear and transparent in nature, making them a better alternative to traditional metal braces.
As they are made of clear plastic or acrylic material, they easily slip over your teeth, offering a tight fit and are super comfortable to wear.
Apart from moving the teeth to the desired position, clear aligner also fix other mild to moderate orthodontic issues like teeth crowding, overbites, cross bites, and teeth gaps. Ideally, the treatment time for teeth aligners is 18 months, 20-22 hours a day.
How Do They Benefit You?
- They are transparent, modern and do not affect your appearance and confidence in any way!
- They can be removed while eating, giving you the convenience of eating all your favourite foods and maintaining oral hygiene well.
- They are portable and easy to carry wherever you go. Certain brands like Illusion Aligners come in a sleek case with a chewy to help you set your aligners well in your mouth and a removable device to help you remove your aligners at your convenience.
- They are safe to use and do not cause any allergies.
- They are super comfortable to wear and do not cause any pain. Due to their material, they feel smooth on the teeth.
- The duration of treatment with aligners is shorter than with traditional braces.
What Should You Do?
- Do Remove Your Aligners before Eating. If you call yourself a ‘food lover’, then you have nothing to worry about when it comes to aligners. You are free to eat all your favourite foods. Because aligners feel so light and comfortable to wear, you can forget that you even have them on! Train yourself to remove them before eating anything, especially hard nuts, coloured drinks and foods, to avoid any permanent damage to the aligners.
- Do Wash Them Regularly. Follow the care instructions given to you by your orthodontist. Before you put your aligners back on, clean them well with a soft-bristled brush and lukewarm water.
- Do Rinse Your Mouth. Always rinse your mouth before putting aligners on, especially after you eat anything, to avoid potential oral health problems. This will prevent food particles from getting stuck between your aligner and teeth, which can cause tooth decay.
- Do Wear Your Aligners Regularly. The advised wear time for aligners is 20-22 hours a day. Make sure you wear them for that duration to have a perfect smile! If you don’t follow this, your treatment time will increase, and you may not achieve the results you wanted.
- Do Store Them Safely. When you’re not using your aligners, store them safely in the case they come in. When kept out in the open for a long time, they can be exposed to air bacteria. If left lying around carelessly, they can also get misplaced or damaged.
- Do Handle Them with Care. While putting in your aligners, handle them one at a time. Avoid handling both together as there are chances of them slipping, getting compressed and damaged.
- Do Have Regular Appointments with Your Orthodontist. Make sure to attend all your appointments with your orthodontist and ask any queries you have about your orthodontic treatment plan. Avoid skipping, as it’s crucial to keep track of your treatment progress.
What should you not do?
- Don’t Touch Your Aligners Constantly. When you start wearing your aligners initially, it can take time to get adjusted to them. This can make you want to touch them constantly. Avoid doing this, as it can distort or damage your aligners.
- Don’t Use Colorful and Harsh Cleaning Products. If you use colourful and harsh soaps and liquids to clean your aligners, the tint from the soap can get transferred onto the aligners and affect their transparency. In addition, the strong chemicals from the soap can also damage the quality of your aligners.
- Don’t Chew Gum or Smoke Tobacco. Chewing gum has the potential to alter the shape of your aligners and attract bacteria and food particles due to its sticky nature. Tobacco in any form can discolour aligners permanently. Quit or avoid both habits to protect your aligners.
- Don’t Try to Be an Orthodontist. If you face any problem with the fitting of your aligners or any other problems, don’t try to fix it yourself. Consult your orthodontist immediately.
- Don’t Have Hot Foods and Drinks. If you consume hot foods and drinks, the heat can distort and affect the fitting of your aligners for good. Always remember to remove your aligners before consuming anything hot.
- Don’t Miss a Day. Remember to wear your aligners daily for 20-22 hours. If you miss even one day, your progress can get disrupted. You might not get to wear the graceful smile you’ve always wanted.
- Don’t Get Lazy with Your Oral Hygiene! As mentioned earlier, don’t neglect your oral health. Rinse your mouth every time you insert your aligners in your mouth, brush twice and floss daily. Neglecting to take these measures can result in foul breath, tooth decay, and gum diseases!
Conclusion
To sum it up, clear aligners are your teeth’ lifesavers. If you follow the tips and tricks mentioned above, you are bound to get the amazing smile you were aiming for without any hiccups along the journey. A marvelous creation, aligners help your teeth become the straight and shiny superstars they were always meant to be!
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