What to Expect During Your First Week of Invisalign Treatment

Invisalign in Alexandria is a very popular type of orthodontic treatment that can address a variety of alignment concerns.

The reason why it’s so popular lies in how discreet the treatment is. Invisalign involves wearing a set of clear aligners that slowly pull the teeth into their most optimal placement, allowing you the benefit of a virtually unnoticeable orthodontic treatment, especially when compared to traditional metal braces.

If you are about to get Invisalign, you may have lots of questions about what your treatment will be like, especially in the first week.

Here’s a short breakdown of the first week of Invisalign treatment:

Feeling Strange

It may feel a bit strange to wear your aligners for the first time. Though they are custom-made for you, they will feel a bit tight because of the need to put a bit of pressure on the teeth and move them.

However, this feeling will go away as you continue to wear your aligners and your teeth become accustomed to them.

Making Some Changes

Aligners need to be worn 20-22 times a day. Patients only need to take them out when eating, drinking, or during oral hygiene.

This may require a bit of planning, especially concerning meal times. For instance, if you go out to a restaurant, it’s important to cleanse the mouth of food particles after you eat, and only then place your aligners back in, to avoid food becoming trapped.

Creating New Routines

You may feel as if the Invisalign aligners offer your teeth protection from food and bacteria, but that’s not always the case. If you don’t properly clean your teeth and the aligners, you may be increasing your risk of dental issues such as cavities or gum disease.

For example, drinking some soda and putting the aligners back essentially keeps the sugars from the soda in direct contact with your teeth longer.

So in the first week of Invisalign, many patients will need to develop new routines when it comes to their oral hygiene.

Remembering to Keep Them On

Invisalign can be frustrating in the first week because of all of these changes. Some patients can even slightly alter their speech while wearing the aligners.

As a result, it can become incredibly tempting to remove the aligners during certain parts of your day, such as during a work meeting. However, it’s important to remember that for the treatment to work, you need to wear the aligners for at least 20-22 hours every single day, and only remove them when eating or cleaning your teeth.

Interested in Invisalign? We Can Help!

If you want straighter teeth, Robert Marzban, DDS, MDS can help you discover if Invisalign is the right treatment for you, or recommend another approach that can offer you the smile you want.

Book a consultation at Kingstowne Dental Specialists online to get started.