Casey is almost 4 months into her Invisalign treatment and we can start to see some subtle but exciting changes to her teeth position. Highlighted on her progress photos we can see that her front tooth that was pushed back and was the main concern Casey had before the start of Invisalign has moved forward slightly and the lower anterior crowding is improving.
Casey is on her 6th Invisalign aligner and with another 14 to go, she is looking forward to seeing more changes as treatment progresses.
Casey has found so far in her journey that regular home care is imperative during Invisalign treatment to avoid bad breath and tooth staining.
Dental hygiene home care with Invisalign
One of the major benefits of Invisalign compared to traditional braces is that dental home care is ultimately unchanged. Regardless of whether you are doing Invisalign treatment or not, the basis of your dental home routine is the same.
1. Twice daily brushing for two minutes- always using a soft bristled toothbrush with a fluoride toothpaste.
2. Once daily flossing between the teeth- with piksters, floss or floss handles. It is your personal preference.
There is one small change that you will need to make during Invisalign treatment:
3. During invisalign treatment, it is best where possible to brush your aligner (without toothpaste) and your teeth after every meal.
It is important to acknowledge that although it is easier to care for your teeth without brackets adn wire to work around, Invisalign aligners are worn 22 hours a day and if your dental care is slipping, it can greatly increase decay incidence during treatment.
If you do find it difficult to brush between meals, have had a history of dental decay and/or have a diet with acidic or sugary foods/drinks- a high fluoride mouth rinse should be added to your detnal hygiene routine. The extra exposure to fluoride will strengthen your enamel, replacing lost mineral and reducing your risk of dental decay during Invisalign treatment.
Casey’s tips and tricks
1. Switch to an electric toothbrush. Casey has found since switching to the Oral B Triumph 7000 that she has been able to clean more effectively, plaque buildup has reduce and has noticed less tooth and aligner discolouration. Demonstrations are available at Dentalspa Geelong, with the Oral B Triumph 7000 available at discounted RRP prices.
2. Brush your aligners at least once a day. Casey has been using a soft bristled toothbrush or her electric toothbrush to keep her aligners clean. Although she has noticed by teh time her 2 weeks with the aligner is up, they do start to discolour. This month she will be trying a bi-carb soda mix to clean the aligners and will post her findings on our Facebook page next month. if you haven’t already- like our facebook page to be notified of the results.
3. Don’t use toothpaste to clean aligners- they often have an ingredient in the paste that can cause micro-scratches in the aligners and increase stain and bacteria buildup.
4. Now that winter has settled in, Casey has noticed the last few weeks that her lips have been dry and cracking. She has found keeping Vaseline or a lip balm on hand has helped with the discomfort dry lips can cause.
Thank you for following Casey’s Invisalign Journey! If you have any questions about Invisalign or would like some advice please call our office on 03 5223 1555 or email info@dentalspa.com.au and ask for Casey.
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