Get Straighter Teeth with Invisalign

Invisalign is an easier, less painful alternative to metal braces.

With Invisalign, you use aligning trays to achieve straight teeth without the frustration of metal scraping against your gums.

Because it’s a relatively new form of treatment, there are a handful of common mistakes that people who get them often make.

But, hey, everybody makes mistakes. Sometimes you just need a little guidance to get you on track.

That’s why we put together this list of the top 10 tips that every Invisalign user should know. We've also addressed some of the most frequently asked questions so that your journey with Invisalign is a smooth one.

This is THE most important tip we can give you -> Wear Your Aligners.

It’s imperative that you do not forget to wear your aligners.

One of the best things about wearing aligners is that you can take them off. That’s great because you don’t have to worry about messing them up when you want to eat, brush your teeth, or floss.

However, it can also be one of the worst features because it's very easy to forget to put them back in. You're supposed to keep your aligners in your mouth around 22 hours to get the ideal smile you want.

A way to make this easier to remember is to cut back on the number of snack breaks you have so you’re not constantly taking your aligners out. Also, you can create a routine of washing your aligners after every meal so that you remember to put them back in.

If you don’t keep your aligners clean, odor, bacteria build-up, and discoloration can start to form on your trays.

To make sure your aligners stay clean, you should rinse them out every time you take them out to prevent the formation of dry saliva marks.

Also, according to Dr. Farnham, “the best way to make sure your Invisalign trays are as clean as possible is to soak them in Invisalign cleaning crystals.” For the best results, repeat this every morning and evening before you go to bed.

When you get your Invisalign, most likely your cosmetic dentist will advise you to wear your Invisalign aligners as much as possible. Also, you'll probably be told that you should only take them out if you're brushing your teeth, and then you should put right back in.

After you’ve had your aligners for a little while, you’ll gain more understanding when and for how long you can take them off. But, for the first 48 hours, it is crucial that you wear them as much as you can.

This is because in the first two days your teeth are doing a great deal of shifting. Your teeth will likely be sore during this time, but you need to do your best to only remove your trays for eating and brushing.

If you leave your aligners out in the open, you run the risk of them getting dirty, lost, or eaten (if you have pets). When you get your Invisalign clear aligners, you'll be given a case to keep your trays in.

You should ALWAYS carry this case with you.

You should NOT keep your trays in your pockets, napkins, or leave them in the car.

If you do happen to misplace them and then find them, make you sure rinse, wash, rinse, and repeat to ensure that you get rid of any bacteria that may have formed on them while they were out of your sight.

Keeping your mouth clean and maintaining healthy teeth is very important when you're doing your Invisalign treatment.

Because your teeth are being shifted around, parts of your teeth that were hidden are now exposed. Not only that, but new bacteria is being exposed as well.

When you’re at home, make sure that you’re brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis to prevent tooth decay while in treatment.

Additionally, scheduling your routine cleanings with us will help ensure that your dental hygiene is up to par and that bacteria is thoroughly removed.

Many people believe that toothpaste is a good tool to use for cleaning their Invisalign trays.

Unfortunately, what they don't know is toothpaste can damage your trays and can even leave them discolored. With one of the major ideas of Invisalign braces being that people don't really notice them, you don't want to use something on them that will make them stand out.

Furthermore, we've read of dozens of complaints of people feeling like other people do notice their clear aligner trays and how the color of the trays change over time. If you've experienced this and you use toothpaste to clean your Invisalign, then you may want to look into an alternative cleaning method.

As we mentioned before, Invisalign cleaning crystals are the best thing to use when cleaning your aligner tray.

Because there are only a handful of dentists who specialize in working with the Invisalign system in Jacksonville FL, it's a good idea to research your dentist beforehand so that you know you're getting quality work for your money.

You can read interviews, schedule a free consultation, or talk to anyone you know who might’ve gone to that dentist in the past.

Look for more than the quality of work too. It’s not enough that they do a decent job on your teeth. Check for how the dentist treats their staff and make sure you’re comfortable being in their office.

This way you’ll have a productive and enjoyable experience.

If you're thinking about choosing Farnham Cosmetic Dentistry for your Invisalign you should know that all of our dentists are certified Invisalign Preferred Providers.

Listen to Marsha LeDuke's first-hand Invisalign experience in our office.

When you use braces or any type of aligner treatment, your teeth start to shift and realign, and it’s not the most comfortable thing in the world.

Some of the discomfort you may experience can be painful. That being said, it’s nothing that a little over the counter pain relief medication can’t fix.

Also, you may experience when you first get Invisalign that you talk with a lisp. The worst thing you can do (and a mistake that too many people make) is to take your aligners out and avoid using them as much.

Instead, leave your trays in and practice talking.

You’ll notice how much easier talking will become, and soon you won’t even notice that they’re there.

Of course, when you first get your Invisalign tray you’re going to notice them.

It's a process, and you have to give your mouth time to adjust to something pressing up against your upper and lower teeth. Don't worry, unlike braces it's not as painful.

You just have to give your mouth time.

Not only that, but you’ll have to get in the habit of taking your trays in and out, cleaning them, and changing them.

The more you wear them, the easier and faster it’ll be to get used to them.

Once you’ve finished your Invisalign treatment, you’ll need to wear some sort of retainer for the rest of your life.

"You transformed your smile with the world's most advanced clear aligner. Now you can keep it looking good with the clear, discreet retainer that was made to go with it." - Invisalign.com

For the first six months after treatment, you have to wear your Viveras full-time, and then you can shift to only wearing them at night.

You’ll receive four full sets of Viveras and after they’ve been worn down, you’ll need to order a new set.

Fortunately, the dentist office where you received your treatment will have your retainer model on file, so they can easily fulfill future orders.

If you’re still not quite sure if Invisalign is the right treatment for you, it’s okay. In this section, we’ll answer some of the most asked questions about custom aligners.

You’ll see for yourself why Invisalign is the way to go.

Easily enough, Invisalign in Jacksonville FL costs about the same amount as braces do. However, the price can vary depending on how complex the issue is. Without insurance, Invisalign typically costs in the range of $3,500 to $5,000. Though this can change depending your your mouth's particular needs.

To figure out how much Invisalign will cost for you, schedule a free consultation. That way you’ll learn the cost and if your insurance provider will cover some or all of the expense.

No. You can’t eat with your aligners in your mouth.

Please, do not EVER eat with your Invisalign in.

It’s alright to drink water with your aligners in, but no eating.

I know what you’re thinking. “What about soft food”? The answer is still no. Here are a handful of helpful eating tips when you’re on your treatment.

Avoid chewing gum: One of the biggest things we hope you take away from this article is that chewing gum is an absolute no-no! It may not be obvious, but chewing gum will damage your finely calibrated aligners. If you do it, you’ll risk messing up your treatment.

Don’t snack as often: Once you get used to having Invisalign, you can easily forget that they’re in your mouth. That being said, you should be aware of what you’re putting in your mouth, including snacks.

Drink your coffee before you put your Invisalign in: Drinking coffee with your aligners in can stain them. Water will become your best friend because you can’t really eat or drink anything else with your aligners in without them being stained.

One of the coolest features about Invisalign is that you can take them off and which means that you can eat whatever you want! But, before you go running to the fridge, there are some things that you should be aware of, as cautioned by My Crazy Good Life.

Stay away from drinks that are too cold or too hot. When your Invisalign is in, the intense temperatures can damage your aligners and lead to discoloration.

If you remove your Invisalign to drink some hot chocolate or something, make sure you rinse your mouth out before you put it back in.

Drinking alcoholic and overly sugary drinks can cause plaque to build up.

So stick to water if you’re going to drink with your aligners in.

After eating, don’t put your aligners back in without brushing your teeth. If you don’t brush, the build-up underneath your trays can lead to tooth decay.

If you can’t brush your teeth, at least rinse your mouth out. It may be a good idea to invest in a pocket-sized bottle of mouthwash.

Similar to traditional braces these clear braces, can take up to 12 months to complete an Invisalign treatment for adults. However, the time frame can vary from person to person.

As we mentioned before, you should wear your aligners every day for around 22 hours.

As far as the length of treatment, there are certain modifications that you can add to your aligners to speed up the treatment process. These enhancements can include adding attachments, or "buttons", to your aligners or getting AcceleDent to stimulate the blood flow and increase the speed at which your teeth align and you get that straighter smile.

These modifications are not for anyone, so make sure you ask your dentist before trying any of this yourself.

Here’s a short list of helpful tips to ensure that you get the most out of your treatment.

• Wear your aligners as much as possible.
• Regularly clean your aligners, and double-check that they’re seated in your mouth all the way.
• Take good care of your aligners.
• If you're in a hurry, ask our dentists about options that may accelerate your treatment time.

• Top 10 Tips For Invisalign
• Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions
• How much does Invisalign cost?
• Can you eat with Invisalign in?
• How long does Invisalign take?
• Does Invisalign hurt?
• Metal Braces Vs. Invisalign: Which is better?

As you can see, how long it’ll take you to complete your treatment is not set in stone. Everybody is different, and the time it takes can vary depending on the severity of your dental issues.

Naturally, if your problems are more severe, it’ll take a longer amount of time to fix them.

Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign only takes about 12 months to straighten your teeth. It can take up to two years for braces to do the same thing.

Similarly, just as you would get your braces tightened every 2-3 weeks, you’ll need to get your aligners changed every 2 weeks.

Yes and no. Getting Invisalign can be uncomfortable like any dental treatment, but "Most people experience temporary, minor discomfort for a few days."

The reason being is because your teeth are adjusting to being moved and pressed into a new position.

But, the discomfort will fade as your mouth gets used to your trays.

Most of the discomfort comes within the first few weeks of having the aligners in your mouth. While the edge of the aligning trays is not sharp, they can irritate your gums and lips while your mouth adjusts to having them in.

After your mouth has adjusted, the only discomfort you will likely experience is the soreness from new aligners.

In order to fix your teeth, the aligners have to add pressure to get them to move. When you’re getting a new set, you’ll feel sore for a few days, but it will pass.

When it comes to alleviating the pain from Invisalign, most people find that they can handle the discomfort for a few days while their mouth adjusts.

If this doesn’t work for you and you’re experiencing continuous discomfort, there are a few things you can do to relieve the pain.

• Pain killers: Again, most of the pain you’ll experience is soreness, sensitivity, and probably inflammation. Seeking out some medication that’s specifically designed to reduce inflammation may be a good idea.
• Muscle relaxers: If your pain is coming from grinding your teeth or jaw stiffness, then you’ll find a pain killer that helps relax the muscles and relieve some of that tension.
• Eat or drink something: Chewing on something can also help relieve some of the tension. Drinking and eating something cold or hot can help sooth some of the aching and sensitivity.
• The best advice though is to contact our office if the pain is bad.  Our dentists can direct you on the best course of action to alleviate the pain.  If your pain is due to the roughness of the edges on your aligners we can help smooth them out. It’s quick and easy!

As you know, both Invisalign and traditional braces work to help straighten crooked teeth, adjust crowded teeth, fix misalignment, and many other dental problems.

So, which treatment option is better, and what is the difference between these two? If you’ve had the same questions, keep on reading.

Metal braces consist of metal brackets that are glued to your lower and upper teeth. These brackets are linked together with metal wires that help mold and align your teeth.

The wires and brackets can come in all types of colors. So, you can choose to stand out (a popular choice for teens), or you can choose a color that almost matches your teeth color, so they blend in more.

Invisalign is a discreet alternative to getting metal braces. They are plastic aligners designed to realign your teeth without drawing attention to your mouth.

While we won't tell you that Invisalign is always better than traditional braces, we do believe it is often the better choice as outlined through the pros & cons list.

If you don't take anything away from this article, please take this. Keep your plastic aligners clean and do what our dentists tell you! 😀

All of these tips are set in place to help you receive the best treatment possible.

When it comes to choosing to use Invisalign or not, do what's best for you. Set an appointment with our office to discuss the treatment options that will work best for you.

What are you waiting for?

Call us today (904) 262-2551 or Schedule your free consultation today!

• Top 10 Tips For Invisalign
• Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions
• How much does Invisalign cost?
• Can you eat with Invisalign in?
• How long does Invisalign take?
• Does Invisalign hurt?
• Metal Braces Vs. Invisalign: Which is better?