Getting Invisalign to straighten your smile is one of the best and easiest ways to care for your oral health. Our team at Mahlmann & Borders Orthodontics works every day to help our patients craft a smile they love that also improves their health. If you are ready for your own smile transformation, then give our Richmond office a call to get started!
If you’re about to start treatment, here are our 5 keys to creating beautiful smiles with aligners! By following these guidelines, you will have the fastest and healthiest treatment possible.
#1. Show Up to Your Check-Ups!
The first thing you need to know about orthodontic treatment is that you can’t do it alone. It took Dr. Mahlmann and Dr. Borders many years of advanced dental training and additional certifications, plus more years of experience working with patients to make them experts on how to adjust teeth safely. When you come to your regular appointments, they can evaluate your shifting smile and guarantee that things are on track. Plus, this is where you will pick up your next round of aligners to continue to the next phase of treatment!
Skipping and postponing appointments will usually mean delaying your treatment, increasing the expense, and even slowing down your results. Don’t risk it, and instead, do your best to show up for your appointments on time every time!
#2. Follow the Doctors’ Orders
This might seem basic, but the truth is that not everyone knows how to follow instructions, even when it comes to important medical treatments! Dr. Mahlmann and Dr. Borders are both board-certified orthodontists, so when they say jump, you should ask how high! Jokes aside, they do know what’s best for your treatment and will be happy to give you advice, instructions, and support through every stage of your treatment.
Following instructions on cleanliness, transitions, and timelines and coming in for your regular appointments are all essential things that will keep your treatment on track. And don’t hesitate to give the office a call if you have more in-depth questions or concerns. We are here to support you and won’t leave you alone to figure it out!
#3. Don’t Forget–Cleanliness is Key!
Keeping your teeth clean throughout your Invisalign treatment is going to be one of the most important things you can do! Thankfully, it’s pretty straightforward. Start with your usual brushing twice every day and flossing once. This is the standard hygienic care that we recommend for everyone, whether they are in treatment or not, and it’s a great baseline for you, too, while you wear your Invisalign.
On top of cleaning your teeth, you should be cleaning your aligners as well. This is pretty simple–rinse the trays out regularly to keep saliva from drying and creating build-up, and brush them once a day. This can happen during your morning or evening teeth-cleaning sessions, but don’t use your usual tools. Instead of toothpaste, use a gentle cleanser like hand soap and a separate toothbrush to gently brush all around and inside of the trays. Rinse them well, and they should be squeaky clean and ready to be worn again!
#4. Stick to the Schedule
What makes Invisalign such an effective treatment is the process of consistently switching out your retainers, which slowly adjusts your teeth and aligns them. Dr. Mahlmann or Dr. Borders will create the schedule with you and give you a specific set of retainers that will last you until your next appointment. It’s your job to set reminders to switch out your aligners every week or two, following your doctor’s instructions.
If you forget to update your retainers or lose them, you can significantly slow down the process. So do your very best to remember to upgrade your retainers on time each week, and hold on to the most recent set of old retainers just in case you lose your current pair and need to wear something as a placeholder. In general, it’s a great idea to carry your retainer case with you everywhere so that your retainers will always be kept in a safe space, and there won’t be the risk of you accidentally throwing them away!
#5. Know When to NOT Wear Your Retainer
When you are getting Invisalign treatment, it’s your job to wear your retainers almost 100% of the time, with a few significant exceptions! Never wear your retainers while you are eating or chewing anything or if you are drinking! Chewing with retainers can mean accidentally breaking or distorting them, so they aren’t effective. And you don’t want to coat them with foods or liquids that will cause plaque and bacteria growth. It’s only safe to drink water while your retainers are in. Otherwise, remove them while eating and drinking, and then ideally, give your mouth a swish of water to clean things out before popping them back in.
It’s Your Turn to Get a Smile that Shines!
There really is no easier way to take care of your smile than to schedule a free consultation appointment at Mahlmann & Borders Orthodontics! We can make a plan for your smile and set you up for success. Give us a call to get started today!