Invisalign Clear Braces in NYC
Invisalign aligners are a wonderful way to straighten your smile with ease. However, as will all dental work, they will require a bit of adjusting. The team at DentAlign NYC will go over all you need to know about wearing and caring for your aligners. For a refresher, we’ve created this page to help you for living with your new Invisalign aligners. Enjoy correcting your smile with ease with these simple tips and frequently asked questions. If you have any specific questions or concerns about your experience, give us a call. Contact us today to schedule your appointment for Invisalign dental aligners in New York City.
What Should I Expect?
You will wear each set of aligners for about two weeks. After that period, we will ship you a new set of aligners that will continue to shape and adjust your teeth into their correct places. This treatment will continue based on how much we need to adjust your teeth. During your first fitting, we’ll show you how to care for your aligners and how to insert and remove them with ease. As always, let us know if you have any questions at any point in your Invisalign process.
How Often Do I Have to Wear My Aligners?
You need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours every day. The longer, the better. Failing to wear your aligners can result in an elongated time of treatment. When we ship you new aligners, stay to your schedule of changing to the new trays. The small corrections are set to your plan and will help you slowly and efficiently adjust your teeth over time. Most people adjust to their aligners in a few days as they learn to speak with them. After a few days, nobody will notice you’re even wearing them. And you’ll be able to wear them with ease, not thinking about them.
Speaking While Wearing Invisalign
Because you are introducing new material into your mouth, it is natural for most patients to experience slight speech impediments as their mouth and tongue get used to speaking with the aligners. This should clear up within the first week of use. Although the aligners are thin, you’ll notice them at first, taking up some extra space in your mouth. Some patients notice a slight lisp during the first few days of wearing them. But you’ll learn to speak with them quickly. Most people won’t be able to notice you are wearing Invisalign unless they are extremely close to you while you are talking.
Tips for Decreasing Discomfort
Some discomfort and pressure are normal with Invisalign, especially during the beginning of the process and when you introduce a new set of aligners. Because your teeth are getting used to moving, some patients experience varying levels of discomfort. To help alleviate this, remove the aligners and suck on ice cubes. When the aligners are in, use cold compresses on your face to reduce pressure. When your mouth and teeth are feeling sore, avoid crispy and crunchy foods. Contact DentAlign NYC if the pressure or discomfort does not subside, as this could necessitate redoing the mold for new aligners.
Eating and Drinking With Invisalign
It’s very important to remove your Invisalign aligners prior to eating or drinking. For starters, you can damage your aligners while attempting to chew food or when they come in contact with hot drinks. Removing them can also protect your oral health, as food can become trapped in your aligners, causing plaque. Any time food or debris sits in your teeth and in contact with your gums, you increase the risk of dental issues and infections. Finally, if you eat or drink bold-colored food or beverage, such as wine, coffee, marinara sauce, or beets, they can stain your aligners, making them significantly more visible in your mouth.
One of the best parts about Invisalign is there are no eating or drinking restrictions. When you eat or drink, you simply remove the aligners from your mouth. Drinking cool water is the one exception, but for all other food or drink, remove the aligners prior to consumption. Warm drinks can warp the aligners and cause them to fit improperly, while some foods (and gum) can get stuck to the aligners and damage them. Tobacco use (smoked or chewed) is also highly discouraged because the aligners can become discolored.
Sleeping With Invisalign
Sleeping with your aligners is completely safe and recommended, even when adjusting to the discomfort of new ones. Tooth movement happens while you sleep, which is helpful if there is pressure and discomfort. However, some patients experience increased saliva production when their aligners are in, which can potentially interrupt sleep. If you notice excessive saliva, sleep on your back or prop your head up slightly until your body has gotten used to sleeping with the aligners in. If possible, breathe through your nose instead of your mouth to further reduce saliva. Your body should adapt to the changes of sleeping with your aligners; however, If you experience lingering issues, contact DentAlign NYC.
For more tips on your Invisalign lifestyle, contact us today!
