Do's and Don'ts To Follow With Invisalign Retainers

Envious of someone's smile which reveals perfectly aligned teeth? You can acquire that coveted smile with Invisalign aligners, and clear dental trays that go over the teeth to straighten them. Once the aligners have done the job of teeth alignment, Invisalign retainers take over in anchoring the teeth in the new position. A major step towards achieving the goal of a confident smile is to take good care of the Invisalign retainers in much the same manner as the aligners. Here's a useful checklist of do's and don'ts to follow with Invisalign retainers that include use and care, dietary restrictions, and responsible actions towards good oral health.

Do's To Follow With Invisalign Retainers

To ensure the best results with Invisalign retainers, always wear them as directed, maintain proper oral hygiene, and avoid eating or drinking anything other than water while wearing them.

1. Stay Informed

Post-treatment with Invisalign trays, it is important to visit the orthodontist to understand the role of Invisalign retainers to help you make an informed choice on whether or not you need to use them. Your orthodontist will explain the benefits of wearing them after aligners, and if you go ahead with the decision to do so, take a fresh imprint of your teeth for the retainers. You should also know how to position them correctly because putting them askew will damage the retainer and can affect your gums too.
Staying informed also means clearing doubts with your orthodontist about any issues, such as when to remove the Invisalign retainers, whether to wear them at night, conveying a dental problem like swollen gums or pain, etc.

2. Follow Guidelines

It is imperative to follow the orthodontist’s instructions to the T on the use and maintenance of the Invisalign retainers. This means wearing them for the required duration in terms of months and daily hours. This typically may be 22 hours day & night for about six months initially, and later for fewer hours as prescribed.

3. Consistency in Oral Hygiene Regimen

Don't be blasé about oral hygiene just because the main alignment treatment is over. You need to continue the regular regimen of brushing and flossing of teeth, removing the Invisalign retainers each time you do so. Also, since you remove the Invisalign retainers while eating or drinking, it is advisable to wash and rinse your mouth to remove food particles thoroughly before putting back the retainers.

4. Good Maintenance

At least once a day make it a point to clean the Invisalign retainers. Use a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water, then dry them properly. The orthodontist may suggest a mild denture-cleaning solution. Make sure to use a separate toothbrush to clean them, and not the same one that you use to brush your teeth. Cleaning retainers regularly helps to keep away not just general grit but also prevents them from becoming smelly.

5. Use the Storage Case

The orthodontist will give you a storage case for the Invisalign retainers. This helps to keep them hygienic, rather than carelessly tossing them on a paper napkin or cloth which could become dirty in the open air.

Don'ts To Follow With Invisalign Retainers

When using Invisalign retainers, it's important to be mindful of certain habits that can hinder your treatment progress or damage your aligners. Here are some key "don'ts" to follow for the best results. Here are things not to do with Invisalign retainers:

1. Avoid Quick Fix-It Cleaning Solutions

Invisalign retainers are delicate and it is foolish to use something like toothpaste or mouthwash that is at hand just because you wish to get the cleaning job done as soon as possible. Any type of chemical-based solution can leave a stain or a visible scratch. Same with hot water; it can warp the shape of the retainer.

2. Avoid Eating And Drinking When Wearing Retainers

It is a must to remove the Invisalign retainers each and every time you eat as otherwise, you are putting force on the retainers when you chew or bite. Food particles can easily get trapped within the retainer and subsequently lead to dental hygiene mishaps. Taking a drink is also not a good idea to avoid staining.
The one thing that you can have while wearing the Invisalign retainers is plain water. In fact, drinking water will keep you hydrated.

3. Avoid Bad Habits And Re-Consider Caffeine Intake

Despite awareness of the dangers of smoking, you find it hard to quit. Each time you light up, you will be removing the Invisalign retainers which means you are not wearing them for the required duration. Besides, oral cancer is lurking in the shadows. So you really need to make the effort to quit that bad habit.
Even constantly removing the Invisalign retainers to have a caffeine fix interrupts the treatment. Anything containing caffeine is also not good for the retainers as it leaves visible stains on them. Same with sticky products like gum and sugary soft drinks. Avoid them to maintain good oral health.

4. Avoid Diy Self-Adjustments

You may fiddle with the Invisalign retainer if you feel it has come loose and try to adjust its positioning. Don't! You may bend it out of shape while trying to push it in a particular direction, thereby making it unfit for use. The orthodontist will check if it can be adjusted back to a comfortable fit or requires it to be replaced.

5. Avoid Missing Follow-Up Sessions

Your orthodontist will provide a schedule of appointments for follow-up sessions. These are required not just for a check-up of your teeth once you start wearing the Invisalign retainers and to make adjustments if necessary, but also to provide a replacement. You should not wear the same retainers that you started with for the long term. The orthodontists will check for wear and tear, which can happen due to poor oral hygiene and/or improper maintenance.

Conclusion

Make sure that you follow the basic dos and don'ts to follow with Invisalign retainers as well as follow your orthodontist’s instructions on dietary restrictions and punctually attend follow-up appointments. By doing so, you are taking proactive steps to get the most out of your dental treatment, straighten your teeth, and achieve that radiant smile!

At Dentique, we offer Invisalign treatment and related services to help you achieve a perfectly aligned smile with comfort and convenience. For more information, get in touch with us!