16 Tips For You To Follow If You Are Using Aligners

Did you recently get clear aligners, or are you still thinking about it? In the past few years, orthodontic treatment has transformed greatly. Gone are the days when orthodontic treatment meant metal braces, cuts on cheeks, and uncomfortably smiling for photographs. With clear aligners, you can get a perfect smile without any aesthetic repercussions.

Whether you’ve already started your treatment or are still considering it, the following tips will be beneficial for you:

Use Proper Technique While Wearing the Aligners

An improper inserting or removing technique can warp or damage the aligner trays. While wearing the aligners, apply even pressure simultaneously on both sides till they snap in place. Do not bite down to position them.

Water Should be Your Only Drink 

It may be difficult for you to quit sugary, caffeinated drinks like soda or coffee that usually provide you energy for the day, but they will stain your aligners and increase the chances of dental caries.

Oral Hygiene is a Priority

Often, due to their smooth texture and comfortable presence, aligners feel like real teeth. So, once they get comfortable, many patients stop maintaining proper oral hygiene. Make sure you thoroughly brush and floss every time after eating before wearing your aligners.

Keep Your Aligners Clean

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and liquid soap to gently clean your aligners to prevent bacterial infections, dental caries, etc. Dirty aligners can promote bad breath, plaque buildup, gum diseases, and cavities. Avoid using toothpaste or mouthwash for cleaning as they contain dyes, abrasives, etc.

Sugar-free Chewing Gums are the Go-To-Snacks for You

If you snack habitually, then sugar-free chewable and chewing gums are your new best friends. They do not cause caries, help clean teeth after meals, and keep the aligners in place. Also, you can’t eat with the aligners in as they are not strong enough to withstand the occlusal forces. 

Keep Track of your Aligner Wear Time

While they are not painful, aligners do cause some amount of discomfort. Some patients may be tempted to forgo wearing them for a few hours to lessen the discomfort. Some people simply forget to wear them when they get busy with their lives. But for treatment success, you need to wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours a day, so carefully keep track of your aligner wear time.

Change your trays on time

On average, aligner trays have to be changed every 12-15 days. Each tray set will have a different time frame, and sometimes the time frame for upper and lower trays may differ. Keep track of when you have to change a particular tray and change it whenever necessary.

Have a dental care kit with you at all times

When traveling, you should have a traveling oral care kit to help maintain oral hygiene and aligner care. The kit should contain a soft portable toothbrush, tiny toothpaste tubes, lip balm, dental floss, mouthwash, dental wax, and liquid soap.

Hold on to your OLD aligners

Do not throw away your old aligners. If your aligners break or get damaged, you can use your last set of aligners to continue the treatment without any delay and prevent a prolonged treatment time.

Practice your enunciation 

You may have a slight lisp during the first few days of the treatment. You need to practice your enunciation so you can adjust your vocal tissues and pronounce words clearly. Many people find singing helps them adjust faster. 

Aligner trays can be Trimmed and Adjusted

Generally, a little discomfort is common when you first start wearing aligners, but if the plastic overlaps and constantly rubs against the gums, it can cause gum bleeding and irritation. You can visit your dentist for trimming, but if you don’t have the time, you can use nail filers or baby nail clippers to trim the edges gently. Make sure not to over-trim, though, as it will affect the tray’s fitting.

Use dental Wax if needed

The edges of aligner trays are sharp and can damage the tongue. You can use dental wax to smooth the rough edges and prevent tongue injury. If you have any cuts, you can use medicated mouthwash to soothe the area and promote healing.

Use your aligner case

Aligners are made from fairly durable plastic, but you should still use their case for storage to protect them from heat or pressure damage or getting lost, especially if you are in a restaurant. 

Find a trusted orthodontist

Often patients undergoing at-home aligner treatment may be tempted to skip dental appointments to save money and time, but you need to find a trusted orthodontist or dentist to ensure your treatment is successful.

Wear your retainers

You may be tempted to skip post-care after aligner treatment, but you need to wear your aligners for the appropriate amount of time afterward to ensure the results last for a long time. 

Stay patient & keep smiling

The beginning of the treatment can be very stressful and discomfiting. It may take a little while for you to adjust to the treatment. Stay patient, and pretty soon, you will completely adjust to the treatment. Don’t feel discouraged if you can’t ‘see’ the results, as the change may be a little difficult to you to notice yourself, but it’s there.

If you follow the given tips, your aligner journey will be smooth, and you will be able to enjoy a perfect smile with straight teeth in no time at all.