Learning new habits are never easy, and oral hygiene routines are no exception. As a parent, you can help your child develop important habits now that set the stage for a lifetime of better oral health. Here’s how.
Invisalign® is an innovative treatment option prescribed to perfect your smile. Instead of braces, which can be painful and unsightly, Invisalign uses clear trays to slowly correct your teeth. The trays are molded to promote subtle changes in your teeth and jaw over time.
Consistency is key -- you’ll typically wear the trays for approximately 22 hours per day, so they’re integrated into your daily routine. In addition, the trays are switched out about every two weeks to gradually adjust your teeth’s positioning.
Here at Cherry Family Dental in San Jose, California, our caring team work with you individually to develop a treatment plan that addresses your unique dental concerns, from overbite and underbite to crookedness and teeth gaps.
Invisalign is favored by many of our patients because it has a more attractive look than braces, thanks to the clear, nearly invisible, appearance of the trays. In addition, Invisalign offers a flexibility that braces don’t have.
While we recommend that you wear the trays for 22 hours a day, the trays can be easily removed for special occasions, sports, or recreational events. Invisalign is just as effective as braces for many dental and orthodontic conditions.
If you are currently using Invisalign or considering doing so in the future, it is important to take special care of your Invisalign trays. These trays are the lifeline to your perfect smile, so listen up!
You would be surprised how much gunk can accumulate in your trays over time. It is important to clean the trays early, before there is too much build-up, and clean often on a regular schedule.
The recommendation is to have a schedule for daily cleaning, usually once in the morning and once in the evening. During this time, you remove the tray, run it under lukewarm water, and then carefully scrub the inside and outside of the tray with toothpaste and a separate toothbrush. This should remove the daily accumulated gunk in your trays.
Depending on your specific treatment plan, you can expect to have different trays once every two weeks. It is useful to consider doing a deep clean of your trays around halfway in the cycle, just to remove any calcium or tartar that has built up. You’ll also receive a deep cleaning solution from our team during consultations for this purpose.
Like we discussed earlier, you’re wearing your trays for about 22 hours a day, so there shouldn’t be much off-time! But if you do remove your trays to give your jaw a break or for a once-in-a-while event like playing in a sports game, be sure to always store the trays in their original container.
The success of the treatment regimen depends on the trays shaping your teeth, so it’s best if the trays don’t get misshapen. Keeping the trays in their container also keeps you from losing them, which will sidetrack your journey to straighter teeth.
We’re excited that you’re taking the next step to perfecting your smile with Invisalign, and we’re sure that these tips will send you on the right path. For more information on taking care of your Invisalign trays or to learn more about Invisalign, call or book an appointment online with Cherry Family Dental today.
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