According to the Canadian Association of Orthodontists (CAO), over 4,000,000 people in Canada and the United States are undergoing orthodontic treatment. The CAO doesn’t break down just how many of those people live in Okotoks or Alberta, but we have a hunch that the number is a significant one.
There was a time when all 4,000,000 of those people undergoing orthodontic treatment in North America had just two choices: living with crooked, misaligned and inconsistently gapped teeth; or wearing uncomfortable wire and metal braces for all to see… for years. Today, though, Invisalign’s system of clear and removable aligners offers a third choice. Today, people can have their teeth straightened discreetly and comfortably, and often more quickly than with traditional braces, while able to eat, brush, smile, kiss and take selfies without braces at all.
Here are a few tips for getting the biggest possible bang for your Invisalign bucks, and maximizing your chance of achieving transformative results.
Take advantage of your time eating… to clean your aligners
One of the biggest advantages of Invisalign in Okotoks is that you can remove your aligners to eat completely normally. But every minute that you are not wearing your aligners is the time when your teeth aren’t being moved. Your dentist in Okotoks will recommend that you wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours every day to accomplish your treatment plan. Since the time when you’re not wearing your aligners is at a premium, you should take advantage of it. One way to do that is by cleaning your aligners while you eat. The easiest way to do that is to soak your aligners in diluted — but not coloured — mouthwash.
Whiten your teeth as you straighten them
Every time you take your aligners out, you should brush your teeth before you put your cleaned aligners back. This will make sure food particles and any bacteria present aren’t trapped between your aligners and your teeth. If whitening your teeth is also a goal, use whitening toothpaste. The aligners used by Invisalign near you may hold the whitening agents in that toothpaste against your teeth longer rather than letting them get washed away by saliva.
Be smart about keeping track of those minutes without your aligners
It’s essential not to go overboard when you take your aligners out. Every minute they’re out of your mouth is a minute your treatment plan is not being completed. Keep track of your two to four hours daily when a dentist near you says it’s okay to keep your aligners out. One way to keep track — and to keep yourself on track — is to set a timer on your phone every time you take your aligners out. This way you won’t be tempted or permitted to forget to put them back on your teeth.
Prepare ahead of time for brushing your teeth more often than usual
During your treatment plan, you’re going to brush your teeth much more often than usual — every time you take your aligners out of your mouth, no matter where you are. Since you may eat away from home and take your aligners out of your mouth away from home, set yourself up with a travel kit containing a toothbrush, some toothpaste, and some floss, so you can tend to your teeth no matter where you remove your aligners.
Don’t leave your house without your Invisalign case
Every time you leave the house, take your Invisalign case with you. Without a case to put your aligners into when you take them out at a bar or restaurant or anywhere else, you may be tempted to wrap them in a napkin, place them on a table, or even toss them into a purse or backpack. All those options are crummy ones. You run the risk of having them swept away by a waiter, knocked onto the floor, lost or stolen or even damaged in the bottom of a bag. Instead, use your Invisalign case to keep your aligners safe and secure.
We want you to experience all the benefits of your treatment plan for Invisalign in Okotoks. If you have questions about how to maximize the benefits while minimizing the length of your treatment plan, contact a dentist at Cornerstone Dental Wellness to review your progress and get answers to all your questions.
