Invisalign treatment is one of the most popular and revolutionary dental procedures to emerge in oral hygiene over the past few years. After receiving FDA approval several years ago, these near-invisible aligners have replaced metal braces as the favoured method for straightening crooked teeth, and involve frequent trips to the orthodontist for a fresh alignment every couple of weeks.

Despite its popularity among dental patients, invisalign treatment won't do all the work for you. Developing a healthy, straight-looking smile is up to you as much as it is to your dentist. Discussed here are the four things you can do to get the most out of your invisalign treatment, listed under A, B, C and D to make each one actionable and memorable for your convenience.

A – Attachments

Whilst the invisalign treatment itself can work alone, it is always best to use the "attachments" that can be added on top every time you visit your orthodontist. Many patients are a little reluctant to have these attachments or "buttons" applied given that they can make aligners look a little more noticeable, but without them you may find the overall results of the straightening treatment to be somewhat underwhelming. Attachments are strategically placed additions that can fine-tune the restructuring of your teeth to make them look as great as possible, and whilst they feel a little awkward and uncomfortable at first, it is always worth having them added so that you get the very best effects in the long run.

B – Before & After

Try your best not to get hung up on the "before" and "after" aspect of invisalign treatment. It may be tempting to pop out the tray from time to time to see what sort of impact these straighteners are having, but by doing this on a regular basis you'll allow the trays to gather bacteria and prevent them from doing their work. It is highly recommended that you wear your invisalign aligners for 22 hours a day, only removing them when you need to eat, drink, or perhaps do something recreational like play an instrument.

C – Cleaning

You might think that brushing your teeth normally whilst wearing your invisalign aligners ought to do the trick in terms of keeping them clean, but there are additional steps you can take to make sure that no nasty bacteria develops. Soak your aligners in a small glass of strong mouthwash and cold water once or twice a week, and leave them there for a few minutes. This solution will highlight any tiny pieces of debris that have gotten caught on the aligners over time, and will allow you to scrub them off lightly using a fluoride toothpaste.

D – Diet

One great thing about invisalign compared to ordinary braces is that you're able to remove the trays whenever you like. Use this to your advantage when it comes to your diet, as there are particular foods that can cause harmful bacteria to build by getting trapped underneath the aligners. Make yourself aware of the more problematic foods that can linger in the mouth, significantly reduce your sugar intake, and never eat whilst wearing your aligners. Darker foods and drinks have the ability to discolour the aligners (making them appear more noticeable to others), damage the material, and get caught around them—which can lead to a build-up of bacteria and possibly infection.  After every meal, be sure to give your mouth a thorough rinse before you pop the corrective trays back in, as this will help to prevent any food catching on the underside. Towards the end of a tray's particular life, you may find that your mouth becomes a little dry. This is normal, and drinking plenty of water everyday should help alleviate the symptoms. 

For more information, contact South Side Dental Options. 

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