Invisalign might be your ticket to straighter teeth, but there are some things you should first learn before taking the plunge.

At Sandown Dental, we see lots of Invisalign patients leave our office satisfied with their results. However, that said, the groundbreaking device isn’t necessarily for everyone. Read below to see whether you’re a likely candidate for invisible braces.

You have to wear the aligner trays for the device to maximise its effectiveness

As obvious as this may sound, many people think that due to its removable nature, you don’t need to wear Invisalign in Belfast all the time. This is incorrect.

While you have the freedom to remove the device without professional assistance, you should still have it on most of the time. Ideally you should be wearing the device around the clock, except when you need to eat, brush your teeth, or when you are desperately seeking a break from your device.

By not practising self-discipline, you’re adding a couple of weeks or months onto your treatment, which is undoubtedly frustrating but also avoidable.

You must clean your device, as well as your teeth, well

Your clear aligner trays will only remain transparent if you clean them regularly. When you clean them, you should stay away from toothpaste because this only works to clean your mouth. Using toothpaste contains an abrasive ingredient that causes build-up and odour, so considering using mild soaps instead.

When it comes to brushing your teeth, you won’t have to add new steps to your cleaning regime. However, you must brush your teeth after every meal as germs can quickly accumulate in the moist spaces of your aligner trays.

Stay away from beverages that stain

The good news is that you can enjoy your morning cup of coffee or end-of-day glass of wine while wearing Invisalign in Belfast.

That said, you should curb your caffeine and red wine intake as these drinks can really stain the plastic. When this happens, your braces may become more noticeable.

Is there any discomfort?

For many people, metal braces can cause some discomfort as they need to be adjusted to keep the teeth in place. You may find that with Invisalign you will also need a bit of time for your mouth to adjust to the new device. However, this should be temporary discomfort if any and will lessen as time goes on.

There is no set treatment time

The time that you have to wear invisible braces varies. You could be wearing them for six months, one year, or longer. Whatever the duration is, it will be well worth the wait and soon enough you should have straighter looking teeth.

Unfortunately, it’s not for everyone

You may ask that “if Invisalign in Belfast is a preferred straightening method, why are people using other types of braces?”. One of the reasons for this is that Invisalign is limited in what it can fix, and you might find that your case is too severe to be fixed quickly with invisible braces. In these instances, it’s in your best interest to consider an alternative device. However, it is important to consult a professional about your dental treatment options as each case is different.