The discreteness and ease of wearing Invisalign, have made it one of the most sought-after forms of orthodontic treatment today. Treatment consists of a series of clear, comfortable aligners made from flexible, medical-grade plastic, which work by applying controlled force to specific teeth during different stages of the treatment. Each new aligner works by gently and gradually moving your teeth into their desired position, creating a less painful way of gaining a straighter smile.
There are endless benefits to using Invisalign as your orthodontic treatment including discreetness, removability, comfort, and versatility, not to mention no disruption to your diet, which for many people is a big deciding factor when it comes to orthodontics.
One of Invisalign’s Most Attractive Benefits: Dietary Freedom
Invisalign can fit into daily quite seamlessly, causing minimal disruption to your daily routines and providing you with all the benefits that come with gaining a straighter, healthier smile. If good oral hygiene is maintained in the form of brushing twice daily, flossing, keeping aligners clean and wearing them for a minimum of 22 hours a day, the introduction of Invisalign into your life should be a breeze.
Dietary freedom is high on top of the list of many patients seeking orthodontic treatment, and Invisalign offers just that. The removable nature of Invisalign means that you can continue to eat and drink what you like during your treatment if you remember to keep your teeth and aligners clean and remember to remove them before and re-insert them after. Your teeth and gums may feel a little sensitive after having Invisalign fitted or after changing to new strays, so if you feel ok you can eat and drink what you like.
The Process of Eating and Drinking During Your Invisalign Treatment
It is very important to remember the process of eating and drinking during your Invisalign treatment. The below steps should help you on your way and allow you to continue enjoying the foods and drinks you love.
- Remove Invisalign Aligners Before Eating – compared to other forms of treatment, where diet has adapted due to a fixed orthodontic device, you can eat and drink what you like. Nothing must be eaten whilst still wearing your Invisalign aligners, this includes small and soft foods, as any type of food can damage the aligners and a replacement set will be needed. It is also possible to stain the plastic with certain foods and drinks.
- Only Drink Cold or Room Temperature Water – hot drinks can warp and change the shape of your aligners, which can alter the progress of your teeth. If you are making a hot drink, remove your aligners first.
- Take Care of Your Aligners When Eating – once you have removed your aligners for eating or drinking, put them back in their protective case. This makes it less likely for them to get lost or accidentally thrown away and have to order a costly replacement. This can also delay your treatment as your teeth may move out of place as you wait for your replacement.
- Clean Your Teeth and Aligners After Eating – small food particles build up in between your teeth after eating. If they are not removed and trapped against your teeth from the Invisalign trays, then bacteria can multiply. Brushing and flossing your teeth using an orthodontic toothbrush and floss threader after mealtimes is the best way to ensure bacteria stays at bay. Bacteria can also build up in your aligners so cleaning them with a soft toothbrush and water is advised and if it’s not possible to brush, then swilling your mouth and your trays with cold water to remove food particles and bacteria will suffice until you can get to your orthodontic devices and clean properly.
- Don’t Forget to Put Your Aligners Back In – it is important after removing your Invisalign to be vigilant about your oral hygiene, keep your aligners clean, and always remember to put them back in. Forgetting to put your aligners in can delay your treatment time and even cause you to fall back a few trays. Wear your aligners for the recommended 20 to 22 hours per day, and ensure that as soon as you’re done eating, you re-insert your aligners.
Alternatives to Invisalign
Before removable, clear braces became so popular, the alternative was the fixed, metal brace. With this device being fixed to your teeth, adapting your diet was extremely important. Hard, crunchy, and sticky foods are not permitted as they may break the brackets or wires running through them. It is also strongly advisable to stay away from staining foods and drinks such as red wine, tea, coffee, and curry, as they could stain the teeth and leave a white space where the bracket was fixed to the tooth.
Fixed braces also make oral hygiene much more difficult, as food particles get stuck in between the brackets and wires, making them harder to shift and harder in general to clean.
Invisalign: Our Brand of Choice at Your Specialist Orthodontist in Darwen
Our specialist team here at Darwen Orthodontics can help you pursue a straighter smile with Invisalign. Invisalign is a popular treatment at our practice, and we find that patients love it because of its comfort, removability, discreteness, and ease of use.
We are expert orthodontists in Darwen highly qualified, experienced, and well-known in the orthodontic sector. Whatever your needs and budget, contact your specialist orthodontists in Darwen today for a free consultation and see how we can help you gain the smile you’ve always dreamed of.
