Invisalign is an excellent option for Butler residents to straighten their teeth without those pesky wires and brackets. Many people take advantage of this great option because of the benefits Invisalign offers.
- Comfortable
- Allows you to eat what you want
- Easier to keep your teeth clean
- It’s discrete; no one will know you are straightening your teeth.
- Less time at the dentist
- Invisalign is just as effective as metal braces for many people.
Remember, Invisalign is orthodontics. While you don’t have many of the significant downfalls of traditional braces, your teeth are still moving, and there are some things you can do to make your treatment easier.
Here are 6 ways you can prepare for your Invisalign treatment.
1. Eat a Meal
Invisalign works by applying pressure on your teeth to move them in the proper direction. Each clear aligner moves your teeth in a predesignated way. You’ll notice quickly that they’re pretty tight when you get a new set of aligners. That’s because your aligners are molded to the position your teeth need to move into. The first three to four days with each new set of aligners will likely come with some discomfort—but it’s nothing to worry about. This discomfort tells you that your teeth are moving. The last few days with your set of aligners will be easy-breezy because your teeth have moved, and now your bone is forming around the new tooth root position.
So, eat a meal before you get each new set of aligners. You likely won’t want to take your aligners out, at least for the first few hours of getting your new set, and eating before your appointment allows you to eat the food you want without discomfort.
2. Take OTC Pain Medication
At Advanced Dentistry of Butler, we want you to have the information you need to have a successful Invisalign treatment. That means no surprises! So we’ll be frank with you; you’ll experience some discomfort with each new aligner. If you are sensitive or get headaches easily, we recommend that you take some over-the-counter pain medication before your aligner appointments. This will make the transition to each new aligner easier.
Our Butler dentist, Dr. Robert Fornalczyk, takes special care to ensure that he isn’t causing extra discomfort while examining your teeth and fitting your new aligner. He cares about you, your smile, and your feelings at our dental office. You can confidently come to each aligner appointment, knowing that you have a dentist who truly cares about you. If you have dental anxiety, talk to Dr. Bob about our sedation dentistry options.
3. Have Soft Foods On Hand
One of the many advantages of Invisalign is you can eat whatever you want because you take your aligners out to eat. However, you might not want to be snacking on crackers or having steak for dinner for the first few days after you get a new aligner set. For this reason, we recommend having some soft foods on hand. Some great foods to eat with each new set of aligners are,
- Scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal
- Soup with soft or pureed vegetables
- Applesauce
- Soft cheeses
- Smoothies, milkshakes, and ice cream
- Meatloaf
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt
- Cooked rice
- Pasta
- Peanut butter
- Macaroni and cheese
- Hummus
The list could go on! There are a great many things you can eat when you first get new aligners. Brainstorm some easy meals that you can make at home or eat on the go and have the ingredients on hand.
4. Prepare Your Dental Kit
You need to take your aligners out each time you eat to protect them from damage and discoloration. You’ll also keep your teeth healthy by not having food stuck between them and your aligners. One thing we highly recommend is keeping a small dental kit with you. You can keep this kit in your purse, car, at your desk at work, or in a backpack or briefcase. Wherever is easiest so you can use it after each time you eat.
Your Invisalign dental kit should include a travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, a small bottle of mouthwash, and your aligner case. Each time you eat or drink anything other than water, be sure to remove your aligners, rinse them, and store them in your case. Then, eat and drink what you’d like! After you finish, brush and floss your teeth, rinse your mouth with mouthwash, and pop your aligners back in.
5. Minimize Snacking
Do you like to snack throughout the day? Us too! However, with Invisalign, you can only have your aligners out for a total of two hours per day. You’ll need to use those two hours to get your meals in. That means you won’t have much time for snacking. To make the transition easier, start cutting out a few snacks here and there a few weeks before you start your Invisalign treatment.
6. Have Enough Invisalign Cases
You’d be surprised how often people accidentally throw out their aligners! It’s easy to set them under a napkin at the dinner table or restaurant, but try to avoid this. Put your aligners in their case so they won’t accidentally be thrown away. You should have an Invisalign case in your dental kit, but it may also be helpful to have another next to your toothbrush or in the kitchen at home. Having enough cases around makes keeping your aligners safe easy!
Do You Have More Invisalign Questions?
Are you wondering about getting Invisalign, or have any questions not answered here? Feel free to give Advanced Dentistry of Butler a call at (724) 282-4436 or make an appointment online.
