Invisalign has come a long way over the past decade, and is now a very comparable alternative to standard metal braces when choosing to go for the smile you’ve always wanted.  Here at L&M, we have many Abington and surrounding area patients undergoing Invisalign treatment, and I just wanted to remind everyone of the home care this entails.

This week, we are sharing the importance of good oral hygiene which is always first and foremost with any orthodontic procedure.  This is true for Invisalign treatment as well. Always remove your aligners when eating, and place them in the provided case.  After you finish eating, we recommend you brush your teeth, and the aligners, to remove any food particles that can lead to white spot lesions and decay. If you are unable to brush after your meal, rinse very well with water, and make sure to brush your teeth and the aligner as soon as you are able.  Remember, anything that is on your teeth can transfer to the aligners, and everything still on the aligners can transfer onto your teeth, so make sure to brush your teeth thoroughly and clean your aligners well.

Along this same vein, the aligners should only be placed in your mouth or in your case. The top way people lose their aligners is throwing them away at mealtime. No one wants to go searching through the garbage for their trays! Never wrap them in a napkin and put them on the table or in your pocket. Also, dogs and cats love to chew on them.  They can smell your saliva, and think your trays are chew toys. We can always replace a lost aligner, but that takes time and delays treatment, prolonging your achievement of your finished result.  Look out for our next blog in two weeks for some more important details about Invisalign care from L&M Orthodontics.