What It’s Really Like Wearing Invisalign
As experienced and trusted dentists and orthodontists, we have built up trust between us and our patients so that they know they are getting accurate advice that helps and strengthens their oral condition, as well as helping guide them in the right direction.
Here at the Perfect Smile, we want to make smiles happier and healthier, but we also want our patients to be in control of their procedures and treatments.
But this can only happen once they have been informed correctly.
There’s a lot of information on the internet that will tell you a lot of different information, and show you a lot of opinions, however, at the end of the day, it is up to you to make the choice.
So, if you’ve landed here, it’s likely that you are considering Invisalign, but are a little unsure of what to expect – and that’s fine!
We’ve treated hundreds of patients and achieved some incredible results, so let us tell you exactly what it’s like…
Yes, you actually have to wear them!
You have to wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day – and this is non-negotiable if you want to achieve the results shown to you in your initial consultation using the iTero scanner.
Believe it or not, there are many patients and a number of people who forget to wear their aligners, or think they can take them out as they please.
Whilst these virtually invisible aligners are removable, they should only be taken out for brushing, flossing, eating, and drinking.
This might sound silly, but the number of people who think they can take out the aligners for hours a day is quite high.
Not wearing your Invisalign for 22 hours a day minimum can hugely affect your results, so you should make sure that you are fully willing to make this commitment prior to pursuing the treatment.
Seeing as the average patient spends £3,000-£4,000 on the procedure, it’s important to get what you want out of the treatment.
For some, it can be easy to forget and that’s ok too – we’re all human and it happens. But consistently taking out your aligners when you are not supposed to will not provide you with the results that you might have been hoping for.
The average patient usually completes their treatment within 12 months, however, you will also be required to wear a retainer following your treatment to prevent teeth from slipping back into their old positions and prevent retention.
So, it’s important to bear in mind that wearing something over your teeth does not just end once the aligners are allowed to come off.
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You might not be able to see them, but whilst you get used to them, you will hear them
They don’t call them invisible braces for a reason!
A lot of feedback we receive from our patients is that in reality, no one knew they wear wearing braces, which is incredible.
However, some have noted that it had taken them a while to get used to wearing them and learn how to talk whilst wearing them.
Certain sentences with lots of “s” sounds can be difficult to master in the beginning stages as it is known to expect a little bit of a lisp as your mouth gets used to wearing the aligners.
But do rest assured that this is only a short period of time, whilst it may be slightly embarrassing in the beginning, towards the end of your treatment you will be speaking confidently and easily with no lisp whatsoever!
It’s all a part of the process.
Expect your oral hygiene routine to increase
Now, we’re not just saying this because we are dentists, we know from hundreds of cases and lots of feedbacks what it’s really like to wear aligners on a daily basis, and it involves a lot of tooth cleaning.
You will want to keep your aligners and teeth clean – so it is recommended that after eating you brush your teeth, this is to ensure that you do not stain the plastic with foods such as curry, pasta, berries, etc.
So, assuming you eat just three times a day, that will likely result in brushing your teeth three times.
For our adult patients who have undergone this procedure, they have noted that they have carried mini toothbrushes with them in case they needed to brush their teeth on the move.
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It might be best to limit your coffee intake
In general, strictly speaking, it’s probably best to stay away from drinks and foods that might stain your Invisalign aligners – this does not mean that you should stay away from coffee for a year, because Invisalign is designed to not disrupt your daily life.
What is probably best to do is remove your aligners when drinking teeth, coffee, and red wine, this way you can feel secure that your aligners stay in tip-top condition.
But again, it’s probably best to devise a little routine and incorporate your coffee into breakfast time, this is because it’s likely best that you brush your teeth before you put your trays back in. The way same will go for when you are drinking wine, or something similar.
This is often something our patients always wish they knew beforehand, as with the subtle changes to routine of having to really look after your aligners are not necessarily what people expect when pursuing the treatment.
You’re likely not to snack as much
It’s also because of the above that you will likely not want to snack as much, which to some, can be the biggest blessing in disguise.
As mentioned, after every meal you will need to brush and clean your teeth. So, when you do happen to get a craving, you will probably stop and ask yourself “Is it worth it?”
For many, nine times out of ten, it’s not.
So senseless snacking becomes something of the past, which has lead to some people losing weight from just cutting out unneeded snacks throughout the day. And whilst you may be cursing your Invisalign for not having a biscuit with your tea, you may begin to notice your clothes fit better and you feel more energised – not so bad really!
It is actually painless
If you have ever had conventional braces, you will understand how painful it was to have them tightened! Comparing traditional brace pain to Invisalign really does make Invisalign look like a dream.
Realistically, you probably won’t be able to bite down on a raw carrot your first day, but within a week, they will not feel so tight and is a lot more comfortable due to the smart material it’s crafted from.
And for the romantics out there, kissing is not much of an issue either!
It’s worth it!
Lastly, it’s worth it. Regardless of the number of times, you have to brush your teeth, 98% of our patients said they would do it all over again.
What’s better is that the habits you train yourself out of with Invisalign stick around, so you are more likely to keep up a strong oral hygiene routine, which will keep your oral condition in a healthy and active state.
Plus, straight pearly white teeth do not hurt either!
