Invisalign clear aligners are a great way to get the most out of dental alignment. But there is a lot more to Invisalign treatment than just wearing plastic trays in your mouth for a few months. In this post, we will share some helpful tips for getting the most out of your Invisalign clear aligners from Schoettger Orthodontics.

Wear Your Aligners for 22 Hours a Day

Studies have shown that wearing your aligners for 22 hours or more per day will give you the best results. Many people are surprised to hear this because they assume it's about how often you wear them rather than how long at a time. When worn around the clock every single day, your teeth will get the message and adjust accordingly.

Keep Your Aligners Clean

Keeping your aligners clean is another way to get the most out of Invisalign treatment. For best results, you should brush them with a toothbrush and non-abrasive soap every time you take them off at night before going to bed. This will help ensure that they maintain their sleek look for a long time. You should also make sure to brush your teeth before putting the aligners back on in the morning. This will help ensure that they stay clean and white.

Watch What You Eat and Drink

While you're wearing your Invisalign clear aligners, be careful of what you eat and drink. Avoid crunchy or hard foods that can scratch the surface of your aligners and wear them down faster than they should. It's better to wait until after you take out your trays to enjoy such foods.

Foods like fruit and vegetables, and anything else that's sticky or chewy will also wear your aligners down faster than you want them to. So avoid situations where you won't be able to remove your aligners before a meal as much as possible.

Keep Track of Your Invisalign Schedule

It's important to keep track of your Invisalign treatment schedule. Be sure you know exactly when it is time for the next alignment in your series and don't miss any appointments! If you do this, some problems can arise with how well the devices work or even what stage of treatment you are on.

Invisalign patients who have been on the treatment for a year or more sometimes show up at the office not knowing what stage of the treatment they are at. This can cause them to go back several stages, which makes their total treatment time longer than it would be if they just followed the schedule as planned. Be sure you know exactly when your next aligner is scheduled for and show up to get the most out of it.

Use a Retainer After Treatment

Many people think that once they're done with their Invisalign treatment, they can stop wearing retainers and be finished! This isn't true at all. Using a retainer after your Invisalign treatment is a great way to get better results.

Just like you need to wear your aligners for 22 hours or more each day to get the best results, wearing a retainer is even more important. That’s because your teeth can still shift and move without Invisalign. They may not do it as quickly, but your teeth may go back to their original positions if you don't wear your retainers after treatment.

So, be sure to ask about the retainer program and get fitted with one after your Invisalign treatment. It's the best way to ensure that you keep those results!

Floss Every Day

Flossing every day is another way to get the most out of your Invisalign treatment. While you're wearing aligners, it can be difficult to floss between all of your teeth like you normally would. That's why we suggest using a Waterpik instead when you have Invisalign. Waterpiks make it easy to clean between all of your teeth, and can even help remove food from places that a toothbrush cannot reach.

There are some waterparks available for use with braces if you prefer those instead of the ones made specifically for Invisalign trays. Just keep in mind that it's important to floss regularly, even if you have Invisalign. That’s because flossing once per day is still better than not flossing at all.

These are just some of the best tips for getting the most out of Invisalign clear aligners. For more information on how you can get started, contact Schoettger Orthodontics today! While Invisalign is a great option for those wanting to improve their smile in a more comfortable manner, there are many different alternatives that you can choose if the cost of Invisalign is too high. Check out these different Invisalign alternatives and the associated benefits.