• Invisibility – They are made of clear, medical grade plastic, which makes Invisalign® aligners invisible to the naked eye.
• Removable – Another advantage of Invisalign® is that you can remove them yourself. You must remove the aligners before you eat and when you clean them. You can put the aligners on yourself once you get them. This saves you the time of making frequent visits to the dentist by being able to do it at home.
• Cleaning – Since the aligners are removable, they can also easily be cleaned. Therefore, the aligners do not interfere with regular oral hygiene habits like flossing and brushing.
• More affordable than lingual braces – The Invisalign® uses advanced technology for planning treatment and manufacture of aligners. They are more costly than standard braces but is still more affordable than lingual braces.
• Safety – Braces are made with metallic wires, which can have sharp edges. Invisalign® are made of medical grade plastic and have no sharp edges.
• Decreased Damage to Teeth and Gums – Metal braces may encourage demineralization and gum disease due to difficulty with cleaning. Invisalign® does not pose any such problems.
• Length of Treatment – Invisalign® typically takes a significantly less amount of time to complete the treatment.
• You Know What to Expect – With Invisalign® you can look at the outcome on a screen simulation.

How to Care for Invisalign® Aligners

Invisalign® orthodontics system will give you a gorgeous smile, as long as you take care of them. If not, the aligners can carry bacteria which may lead to cavities and gum disease. But caring for the aligners is very simple – just practice regular oral hygiene and keep your Invisalign® aligners clean.

Here is a list of do’s and don’ts.

Do:

• Clean your Aligners – Remove your aligners and gently brush them regularly. Plaque and dry saliva can cause bacteria to build. You can soak them in solutions made for sanitizing the aligners and then rinse them clean. You can also clean your aligners with lukewarm water. Never clean them with boiling water, because it can distort their fit and cause them to not fit in your mouth.
• Oral Hygiene Maintenance – Brush and floss your teeth each time you are going to reinsert your aligners. This will prevent trapping particles that can cause decay and gum disease.
• Travel Precautions – While travelling, you should bring your previous set, and the next set along with you. You can use one of them in case you lose or damage your current aligner.

Don’ts:

• Foods to Avoid – Do not eat or drink anything but water while you are wearing your aligners.
• Do not Use Toothpaste on Aligners – Do not use toothpaste for cleaning your aligners. Many toothpastes contain abrasives which can scratch your aligners. Some also have whitening chemicals which may color your aligners. Do not leave them exposed when they are removed, soak them in appropriate solutions.
• Don’t Drop Them – Invisalign® aligners are relatively fragile, and can fracture easily if they are dropped accidentally. Therefore, you should be sure that when you don’t have them on, they are kept in a place where they will not fall. Mouthguards may not be required for Invisalign® aligners since they can be removed during sports activities.

Looking to learn more about Invisalign for your teen? Check out the Invisalign for teens page here. Or learn more about Invisalign for Adults here.  Visit our Children’s Dental Hospital: Invisalign Center.