Achieving the perfect smile with clear aligners can be exciting. However, some Australians are concerned about their long-term repercussions.
Although these dental appliances can straighten your teeth, minimise significant tooth gaps, and restore your smile, you may wonder what it’s like to wear them daily for months or years. Your lifestyle will change once you begin wearing Brisbane clear aligners.
Any experienced Annerley dentist will tell you not to worry, fume, or fret. They can guide you through the process, ensuring you make the appropriate lifestyle adjustments when wearing Invisalign clear aligners Brisbane. With their support, you can achieve optimum comfort without compromising your daily routine and quality of life.
This blog will share several insights and tips for living life to the fullest while wearing your trusty clear aligners, providing you with long-term peace of mind and reassurance.
Clear Aligner Preparation
Clear aligner treatment entails mental preparation and lifestyle adjustments. The following sections will discuss specific tips for wearing your Invisalign Brisbane, empowering you to enjoy daily living while correcting your pearly whites.
Preliminary Consultation
During your initial consultation, your practitioner will evaluate your specific needs and suitability. He will also evaluate your dental history and determine whether cavities, gum disease, or other issues exist.
Next, he will use intraoral scanners to create a 3D model of your teeth. Alternatively, he will take a traditional dental impression. Your dentist will take X-rays of your teeth to determine your oral bone structure, roots, and jaw alignment.
He will conduct a bite analysis to evaluate your teeth function when chewing. This test allows him to determine malocclusions, including overbite, underbite, or crossbiting.
Finally, your dentist will take photos of your teeth for documentation and recordkeeping purposes.
Financial Planning
Clear aligners are a cost-effective investment in straightening teeth, bridging tooth gaps, and attaining the perfect smile. As a trusted dental service provider with over thirty years of valuable industry experience, we strongly encourage you to check with your insurance company for specific coverage details. Your orthodontist can provide the specific payment schemes.
Please read the terms and conditions carefully and understand the total costs, inclusions, and additional fees for subsequent treatments.
The Clear Aligner Lifestyle
Adjusting to life wearing clear aligners twenty-two hours daily for up to twenty-four months can be challenging. However, with a firm resolve, you can overcome potential obstacles. The following sections will delve into how you can make a successful lifestyle transition.
Following The Prescribed Usage
We strongly recommend that patients wear clear aligners twenty to twenty-two hours daily to achieve optimum results. Following this regimen allows the dental appliance to correct your teeth according to schedule. Please remove your clear aligners only when eating, drinking, flossing, or brushing your teeth.
Eating And Drinking
You must remove your clear aligners when eating or drinking to prevent stains or damage. Room-temperature water is the only liquid you can drink while wearing this dental appliance because it helps maintain healthy gums and teeth and also helps clean your clear aligners.
Maintenance And Hygiene
Proper care and maintenance are critical to your new lifestyle, allowing clear aligners to remain invisible and odour-free. The subsequent sections will discuss several maintenance and cleaning tips that ensure your clear aligners remain resilient and pristine during your treatment.
Clear Aligner Cleaning
We recommend patients establish a consistent cleaning routine to ensure their clear aligners are immaculate. Please sanitise them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a gentle liquid soap to sanitise them. Avoid using toothpaste, as it can be abrasive and damage clear aligners like Invisalign.
Brush them gently to avoid scratches that compromise invisibility. Rinse your clear aligners with lukewarm instead of hot water, which can warp the material.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene
Clear aligners are not the only solution for excellent oral health. You must practise consistent oral hygiene to achieve optimum results.
After every meal, please brush your teeth thoroughly with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash to strengthen your enamel and freshen your breath. We also recommend regular flossing to eliminate food particles and prevent cavities.
Finally, please visit your dentist at the prescribed intervals so he can make the necessary adjustments or changes to your clear aligners. He may also prescribe oral prophylaxis to remove plaque and prevent cavity growth.
Aligner Storage
To prevent damage or loss, please place your clear aligners in their case when not using them. Never wrap them in paper towels or napkins because you risk throwing them in the bin, contaminating them with bacteria, dust, and food particles, or damaging them.
Avoiding Dangerous Substances
Please avoid using the following dangerous substances on your clear aligners:
- Coloured or scented soaps.
- Alcohol-based mouthwashes.
- Chewing gum.
- Smoking and tobacco products.
Handling Clear Aligners
Please wash your hands thoroughly before placing clear aligners in your mouth to prevent germ transfer. Then, insert them carefully to prevent them from bending or breaking.
Discomfort And Pain Interventions
Although clear aligners are less painful than conventional steel braces, they can be uncomfortable at first. The following sections will discuss how to manage pain or discomfort during your treatment.
Clear Aligner Discomfort Explained
Your clear aligners exert pressure that slowly realigns and straightens your teeth. There’s no need to worry if you feel uncomfortable wearing them for the first time. Tightness and discomfort are typical sensations that indicate teeth shifting. Fortunately, these feelings will slowly dissipate over the next few days.
Non-Prescription Pain Medication And Cold Compresses
Non-prescription medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol) offer immediate pain relief. Please follow the dosage instructions and consult your practitioner if you have questions about these medicines.
We also recommend applying a cold compress to your mouth’s exterior to help alleviate pain and swelling.
Oral Pain Relief Gels
Topical anaesthetics, such as oral relief pain gels, can help soothe discomfort when applying them to the gums. You can purchase these anaesthetics over the counter at your local pharmacy.
Please read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and consult your dentist if you suspect any allergies before using oral relief pain gels.
Hard And Crunchy Food Abstinence
If your teeth and gums are sore, please consume soft foods, such as smoothies, soups, and yoghurt. To prevent tooth damage, avoid eating nuts, granola, hard candies, raw vegetables, toasted or crunchy bread, and hard taco shells.
Conclusion
With the specific lifestyle adjustments and a dedicated mindset, you can successfully transition to wearing clear aligners. Although initial discomfort is normal, consistency with your oral hygiene and clear alignment maintenance routine will allow you to overcome obstacles and achieve straight, immaculate teeth and the perfect smile.
Please contact us to discuss your clear aligner requirements. We can schedule an appointment with one of our highly skilled and experienced dentists, who can create the appropriate intervention plan for your unique situation.