Invisalign offers a convenient and discreet method for straightening your teeth. These removable aligners enhance your smile without detracting from its appearance during the course of treatment.
To keep your smile looking its best, you should practice appropriate oral hygiene for your orthodontic appliances. Dr. Wayne Sankey, an orthodontist in Flower Mound, TX, offers three tips to ensure your teeth look their best while undergoing Invisalign treatment.
Continue Proper Oral Hygiene Routine
You brush your teeth twice per day and floss daily to clear away plaque build-up that accrues throughout your day. And you should continue to practice this good oral hygiene regimen when you are straightening your teeth with Invisalign.
Invisalign uses aligners that you can remove to eat, drink, or clean your teeth. They should be worn for at least 22 hours each day, but this function allows you to complete your oral hygiene routine to your usual standards and without interruption.
Clean Your Aligners
Invisalign aligners are not subject to decay or infection caused by plaque build-up on your teeth, but they can still gather bacteria from your mouth that can affect your teeth. For this reason, you should clean your aligners separately from the rest of your mouth.
Rinsing your aligners each time you remove them from your mouth stops saliva from drying and adhering to your Invisalign. You should also brush them gently, preferably with a specified cleanser, each time you usually brush your teeth.
Avoid Staining Beverages
Invisalign aligners are resistant to decay caused by plaque, but they can become discolored by substances you consume that contain staining agents. This refers to dark-colored foods and drinks, including coffee, tea, and red wine.
Orthodontists recommend removing Invisalign when eating and drinking to avoid yellowing, staining, or discoloration of your aligners. You should consume these staining beverages and foods with caution even without Invisalign in place because these items can stain your tooth enamel too. If your aligners have yellowed, you can talk to a dental professional about gentle cleaning methods that can eliminate these stains.
Invisalign for Teen and Adult Patients in Flower Mound, TX
Flower Mound Orthodontics offers Invisalign and other teeth-straightening treatments for adult and teen patients in Flower Mound, TX. Dr. Sankey also specializes in braces, retainers, and other orthodontic devices. To schedule a consultation or appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 972.833.8212.