10 Things to Know Before Getting Invisalign in Harker Heights

If you have crooked teeth, you’re probably self-conscious about them. After all, you can’t think of a single celebrity who doesn’t have a perfectly straight smile. Maybe you’re interested in fixing your smile flaws, but you’re not a teenager, so you don’t want to put up with braces. Fortunately, there is another option – Invisalign, a set of clear plastic aligner trays designed to straighten your smile. Let’s take a closer look at 10 things you need to know before you get started with Invisalign in Harker Heights.

1. You Have to Be Dedicated to Wearing Your Trays

It might be inconvenient, but you have to wear your aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours a day in order for them to work effectively. If you skip out on wearing them for a while, your teeth could start to shift back to their crooked state. This could result in longer treatment time and more expenses down the road.

2. People Might Be Able to Hear Your Aligners

Invisalign is virtually undetectable to the eyes, but it may give you a bit of a lisp. However, this is only because your mouth is not used to speaking while wearing your trays. Once you get accustomed to how they feel, you will be able to talk normally again.

3. Invisalign Isn’t the Right Treatment for Everyone

While Invisalign can fix most bite and alignment issues, it’s not perfect. If you have severely crooked teeth, you might get quicker results from braces. Ask your dentist which option would be better for your smile needs.

4. Travel Toothbrushes Are your Friends

Invest in a bunch of those travel-size toothbrushes and always carry at least one with you. You’ll be required to remove your aligners, brush your teeth, and put the aligners back in every time you eat. Carrying tiny toothbrushes with you will become a must.

5. Limit Coffee and Red Wine

Any drink that could stain your teeth – like coffee, tea, and red wine – also stains your aligners. Refrain from coffee unless you drink it with your breakfast. Otherwise you’ll have to brush your teeth an extra time that morning. You are welcome to do that, but it can be a bit of a hassle.

6. You’ll Start Snacking Less

Now that you have to brush your teeth after every single time you eat, you’ll be a lot less inclined to start mindlessly snacking during the day. You’ll start asking yourself, “is it worth it?” when you see someone snacking in the afternoon and they offer you some. You can still brush your teeth afterwards, but over time, you’ll probably want to do that as little as possible.

7. Invisalign is Pretty Much Painless

The wires and brackets of braces can come off and poke the soft tissues in your mouth. Along with that, getting your braces tightened is never fun. By contrast, Invisalign is crafted with your comfort in mind. It has no sharp parts and the trays don’t irritate the gum tissue.

8. Don’t Clean Your Trays with Toothpaste

Some guides out there advise you to brush your aligners like you would your teeth, but that’s actually a big no-no. Toothpaste contains abrasive chemicals that can accumulate and make your aligners stink. Clean them with a special Invisalign cleaning kit you can get from your dentist.

9. Treatment Might Take Longer Than You Think

This is especially true if you don’t wear your aligners for 22 hours a day. While the average treatment length is only a year, many people have to wear their trays even longer because they neglected to wear them as required.

10. Invisalign Is Definitely Worth It

All those missed opportunities to drink red wine and snack on chips will be worth it when, at the end of your treatment, you see straight pearly whites staring back at you in the mirror. All the time and effort will be well worth the time and inconvenience of treatment.

If you’re interested in straightening your smile, there’s no time like the present. Call your dentist today to learn whether Invisalign is right for you.

About the Practice

At Market Heights Family Dental in Harker Heights, TX, we believe in the concept of “lifetime care.” We believe that we can positively influence a patient’s life through quality dental care. Drs. Melinda Duncan and Jesse McKinney both offer kind, expert care, including by straightening teeth with Invisalign. If you would like to know whether Invisalign is right for you, click here or call (254)-699-3565.