Our patients’ questions are top of our daily to-do list. So when we get an email from a patient who has just joined the family of Peydro smiles with questions about her treatment, we pull out all the stops to answer them right away.
Here is the situation. Our patient has recently started her treatment with Invisalign clear aligners and, as you would expect in the first few days of something completely new, she has questions, which she sends us through one of our many channels.
What do I do if an aligner rubs? Can I drink warm chamomile tea with it in? Is it normal to feel pressure on my teeth?
We are going to take these questions, and some others that are very common among clear aligner patients, and write a post with Invisalign tips that we are sure you will find very useful. 🙂
- How long should I wear my Invisalign aligners? You should wear them for the number of hours your doctor tells you, usually around 22 hours a day. That means you should only take them out to eat. If for some unavoidable reason you cannot wear your aligners for the recommended hours, you should let us know.
- What is the best way to store my aligners? When you are not wearing your aligners, that is, during meals, the best thing is to keep them in one of the little cases we gave you at the start of your treatment. When you eat out, always take one of the cases with you; otherwise it is all too easy to wrap your aligners in a napkin and have it end up… in the bin!
- How should I clean my aligners? You should clean them every day with a hard-bristled brush. Because they are in for so long, it is very common for them to get dirty. Do not worry about it: every time you clean your teeth, clean your aligners too. It is a good idea to soak your aligners a couple of times a week in a glass of cold water with a Corega cleaning tablet. The water you clean your Invisalign with should always be cold, as otherwise your aligners could warp.
- What do I do if one of my aligners gives me mouth ulcers? Go to a drugstore and buy a metal nail file. Very carefully file down the bit of plastic that is bothering you; that will shave the aligner back and ease the discomfort. If it still bothers you, you can also buy orthodontic wax, put a small piece where it is uncomfortable, and you will see the problem go away.
- Can I drink coffee with clear aligners? And when we say coffee, that includes any drink with coloring in it. The best option when you drink something with color is to take your aligners out so you do not stain them. That said, do not linger too long over that coffee, or you will end up wearing your aligners for less than the recommended time.
We hope these Invisalign tips are useful during your treatment. If you have any questions… let us know and we will answer right away! 🙂
