Sometimes, or all the time, your schedule is packed. There’s work, school, and activities with loved ones. It can be difficult to fit anything else into your day and have it take up even more of your already taxed brain. That’s why our Jacksonville and Live Oak Invisalign® dentists want to give you some insight into how you can navigate your clear aligner treatment with ease.
Here are 4 things to try for a streamlined experience.
Put Your Treatment on Auto-Pilot By:
1. Moving Onto the Next Set Before Bed
Unlike braces that remain on your teeth until they’re removed by an orthodontist, Invisalign aligners need to be swapped out every few weeks. Switching between clear aligner sets allows your treatment to progress as scheduled and your teeth to straighten on time. Think about how braces are adjusted every 4-6 weeks. This is similar, except it’s often a much quicker process.
Graduating to the next set in your series can cause some discomfort as your mouth adjusts. To prevent a day of mild tooth pain, try putting in new trays before climbing in bed. This way, the adjustment period will be while you sleep versus when you’re at work or school. Taking a pain reliever at this time can also help for a smoother transition.
2. Never Leaving Home Without Supplies
Clear aligners are great when they’re exactly that, clear. If they are not cared for properly, the plastic will accumulate bacteria and stain thus ruining their nearly invisible appearance.
One way to avoid this outcome is to keep a small oral care kit on hand wherever you go. Having a separate toothbrush, tube of toothpaste, floss, retainer case, and possibly a small bottle of mouthwash will do wonders. These supplies in a bag or purse will make the task of much easier when you’re out of the house.
3. Using the Timer System
Ok, it might sound a little weird to carry a timer around with you or always have the app ready to go on your phone but there’s a good reason for deciding to do so. With Invisalign, you must wear your aligners for around 22 hours a day. That leaves a few hours where you can eat or drink what you’d like, brush your teeth, and floss.
After that time is up, however, the aligners should be back in your mouth and that includes the hours spent sleeping. To make sure you don’t forget to put your aligners back in place, set your timer. Hearing it ring later will hold you accountable and keep your treatment on track. You might even become speedy enough that you keep good time on your own!
4. Using a Tray Removal Tool
The best way to remove your Invisalign clear aligners for eating or oral hygiene is to use your nails to get under the plastic and lift it off of your teeth. The problem is, not everyone wants to put their fingers in their mouth or chip their nail polish all the time.
Available for order online, certain like the PULTOOL®, Outie, and OrthoKey all make the task of removing your set of custom aligners easier than ever and more hygienic. No more reaching into your mouth at work or school! Typically, tools of this nature are designed with a hook at one end and a notch on the other.
The hook is placed over the edge of your aligner and as you gently lift, it removes the aligner from your teeth. The notch can also be used to dislodge clear aligner trays. The key is finding a tool that works for you and asking our dentists if you have any questions regarding your aligners.
Schedule Your Next Invisalign Check-Up
Wearing clear aligners doesn’t have to be another stressor in your life. Our Invisalign dentists in Jacksonville and Live Oak, FL, can help you move through each step whether you’re in the office or out in the world. Call one of our Higgins & White Dentistry locations today or request an appointment online to learn more convenient ways to make it to the treatment finish line.