4 Invisalign Hacks for Newbies

If you’re thinking about becoming an Invisalign patient, it’s nice to know the shortcuts and tips for making this treatment as easy as possible to fit into your life. Invisalign is already convenient and more comfortable than conventional metal braces when it comes to transforming crooked teeth, but there are Invisalign hacks that will help you get through the treatment with a lot less discomfort and frustration and a lot more satisfaction.

1. Change Your Trays at Night

Invisalign trays are worn for two weeks at a time, give or take. When it’s time to change to a new set of trays, make the switch before you go to bed. This move helps you avoid the initial discomfort of fresh aligners and improves the effectiveness of the trays. When you sleep for seven to eight hours straight, your new trays are in your mouth uninterrupted for a good length of time, allowing your teeth to adjust to their new positions and minimizing the pressure you would otherwise notice during waking hours.

2. Use Your Phone Timer

Your phone is always with you, and so is Invisalign. Make good use of your timer to ensure that your aligners aren’t out of your mouth for longer than necessary. Since Invisalign must be worn 20 to 22 hours a day, that gives you about four hours for the trays to be out of your mouth so you can eat, snack, and clean your teeth and trays.

You may think you can adequately police your wear time without using a timer, but it’s easy to get distracted at meals or drinks with family and friends and linger longer than you anticipated. Before you know it, your trays have been out for over an hour and you’ve eaten up a good chunk of your allotted “free” time for the day. A timer keeps you on track and delivers a reminder that it’s time to get up and clean your teeth and trays before you put them back together.

3. Become Besties with Your Case

You’re already bogged down with phone, sunglasses, wallet, and other essentials. Having to add a carrying case for your Invisalign trays may seem excessive, but this is one of the most critical items you can keep in your arsenal of daily supplies. And they’re really not all that cumbersome when it comes down to it.

Cases for your trays are slim and unobtrusive, so they easily slide in a pocket or purse. And it’s important to have a place to park your aligners when they’re not in your mouth. Putting the trays in your pocket by themselves means they could get linty or broken if you sit the wrong way. Wrapping them in a napkin increases the risk of accidentally throwing them away or leaving them behind. A case keeps trays safe and your treatment on course.

4. Make Use of an Outie Tool

Invisalign is snug, especially when you first put in a new set of trays. One of the reasons it’s so discreet is because the trays fit closely making them difficult to see. Unfortunately, this can make it a challenge to get the trays off your teeth, especially if you’re also wearing attachments. Ask your Haymarket Invisalign provider if she recommends an outie tool to get the aligners off your teeth without damaging your nails or suffering discomfort in the process.

Are You a Good Candidate for Invisalign?

Schedule a consultation with Invisalign provider Dr. Sina Reangber at LifeTime Smiles in Haymarket, VA, to find out whether you are a good candidate for this innovative cosmetic dentistry treatment.