7 Invisalign Hacks

Switch aligners at bedtime

Invisalign consists of series of clear plastic aligners that gradually move your teeth in the right position. Each custom-made aligner is designed to put the necessary pressure on the teeth to shift and move the alignment of your teeth into the desired position. Invisalign aligners are changed up every 2-3 weeks as instructed by your dentist at The Smile Designer. The treatment involves progressing through a series of aligner trays until the result is achieved. It is not uncommon to feel discomfort and even a slight headache when switching aligners. At The Smile Designer, we recommend that you change to the next set of aligners right at bedtime as by the morning the aligners should feel much more comfortable. This can help ease the discomfort that can be associated with progressing to the next trays.

Set a timer

The most convenient thing about Invisalign treatment Is that the aligner trays are removable. But this can also cause an inconvenience to your Invisalign journey if you are not compliant with the treatment. Invisalign treatment to work effectively, compliance is required with aligners, and to have the most optimal results they need to be worn for about 22 hours a day. In such situations, a timer can help our patients ensure they are hitting the 22-hour mark by keeping on top of their compliance by tracking how much time has passed since the retainers were removed for eating. Forgetting to put the aligners back will delay the progress towards a beautiful straight smile.

Use a removal tool

Removing of trays particularly when you are eating and drinking can help prevent staining and breakage, but in saying this it can be quite difficult to get them out. The Invisalign aligner trays are designed in a way that they fit quite tightly yet comfortably against your teeth. To overcome this problem there are special tools designed known as the ‘outie’ to help patients remove their clear aligners for eating.

Smoothing rough and sharp edges.

Most of the time the aligner plastic trays are manicured well so that there are no rough edges that sit around the surfaces or edges. This hack is only if you experience some roughness or discomfort on the tray that may be rubbing against your cheek or gum. Sometimes new aligners can come with unexpected sharp edges. If you happen to feel that your gums, cheeks, or tongue is scraping alongside the sharp edges to avoid soreness and discomfort invest in a good fine grit nail buffer. The plastic fine grit nail buffers can be used to make small corrections to smooth out the edges of the plastic to make it more comfortable and saves a trip to the dentist!

Carry a travel-size dental hygiene kit

The aligners are easily removable between meals and for oral hygiene as well as special occasions. Your dentist will ask you to wear your Invisalign trays for 22 hours a day. Invisalign trays must be removed for eating and drinking (except water). However, do not replace them immediately after a meal, unless you have already brushed your teeth. The reason for this is if food particles are left behind on the teeth when you put the trays back on, the food will remain there for an increased amount of time. It is vital that patients must brush their teeth before putting their aligners back in to prevent any tooth cavities. Therefore, we recommend creating a small travel kit that has some toothpaste, floss, and a small toothbrush handy. This will make it easier to stay on top of your brushing and flossing.

Always keep a case handy

Always keep your aligner case with you to ensure you have a safe place to put your aligners when you are removing them, whether it is for eating, drinking or social events. Avoid situations where Invisalign trays must be replaced due to breakage, being thrown away by accident, or misplaced. An easy problem that can be avoided, by always having a case with you to store your clear aligners in every situation they are removed for.

Hang on to old trays

After a couple of weeks of use, the aligners can get discoloured and grotty. Even though after 2-3 weeks you move onto your next new aligner, when making the switch it is recommended to keep your previous set of clear aligners. Sometimes treatment does not always go as planned, particularly if a tooth is not moving as expected or you may lose or break the current set of aligners. Holding onto previous old aligners whilst waiting for a new replacement can help regression of treatment and cause minimal disruption that can be avoided.