Even though Invisalign is discreet, comfortable, and a great investment, no one wants to spend more time or money than necessary on their teeth-straightening journey. Many patients are unaware, however, that the habits they’ve adopted can cause them to fall off-track with their treatment plan, making that concern a reality. Don’t worry – that’s why we are sharing a few ways you can accidentally ruin your Invisalign treatment (and what to do instead)!
1. Not Cleaning Your Aligners Properly
In short, each tray is custom-made to gently guide your teeth a step closer to their ideal positions. Naturally, if the aligners are warped in any way, they won’t be able to accomplish that goal, causing you to quickly fall off-track with your original timeline. To prevent that from happening, don’t use harsh chemicals or even hot water to clean your aligners. All you need is a soft-bristled toothbrush and some lukewarm water!
2. Wearing Your Aligners for Less Than 20 Hours a Day
Remember, your trays only work while you’re wearing them, and patients are expected to abide by the 20-22 hour-a-day wear time throughout their entire treatment. If you don’t meet the allotted time, there’s a good chance that your teeth won’t track properly. The good news is that there are several tools available to make this goal significantly easier, including the Invisalign app. With a timer dedicated to tracking how long you’ve had your aligners out, you’ll have an easier time being mindful of keeping them on as much as possible.
3. Skipping Your Check-in Visits
Although there are fewer check-in visits, they each serve an important purpose. One of the biggest ones is that the periodic appointments allow your dentist to check if your teeth are moving as they should. Another component that patients often forget is that these appointments give you dedicated time to talk to your provider about your treatment. Do your teeth feel loose? Did one of your attachments come off? Are you having trouble meeting the 20-22 hour-a-day wear time? Now is the perfect time to address these concerns!
4. Having an Inconsistent Oral Hygiene Regimen
Since even small cavities have the potential to cause serious damage to your oral health, it’s important that tooth decay is treated right away. If you need restorative care, then your Invisalign treatment will temporarily be put on hold. Once the root of the problem has been addressed and your oral health is in tip-top shape again, it will resume. Although this may only add a couple of weeks to the back end of your treatment plan, this can add up if it happens several times throughout your treatment. So, make sure to implement a solid at-home oral hygiene routine to help prevent that from happening!
About the Practice
With ten talented doctors and five convenient locations, we’re here to help patients in Indianapolis, Carmel, and Westfield get the world-class dental care they deserve. If your smile goals include straightening your teeth with Invisalign, then you’ll be happy to know that we are a Platinum Invisalign Provider as well! If you would like to learn more about the Invisalign treatment process or you want to schedule an appointment with our team, get in touch with us via our website or call one of our locations.