5 Ways to Support Your Invisalign® or Clear Correct® Treatment

Did you know that crooked and misaligned teeth are hardly uncommon — more than half of the general population (56%) have some degree of malocclusion? And these numbers are much higher in kids and teens, which is why braces have almost become a rite of passage.

Although metal braces have been straightening teeth for decades, we now have options that are becoming increasingly popular — clear aligners. Thanks to clear aligners, which are far more subtle than the traditional “metal mouth” approach, teeth straightening is an easier journey, but there’s still some effort required.

To help you better navigate your Invisalign® or ClearCorrect® treatment, the experienced dental care team at Willow Glen Dental Specialists wants to share some great best practices here.

1. Wear your clear aligners as much as possible

One of the biggest advantages of clear aligner systems like Invisalign and ClearCorrect is that the aligners are removable for eating and cleaning. And maybe also for some special events or Zoom meetings. In fact, thanks to the advent of clear aligner systems for straightening teeth, one in three orthodontic patients in the United States is an adult.

This same advantage is also a disadvantage as some people may not wear their clear aligners enough. If you want the aligners to straighten your teeth, you need to wear them for at least 22 hours each day. So, by all means remove them for cleaning, eating, and the occasional special circumstance, but don’t forget to pop them back in.

1. Store your aligners carefully

When you do pop your clear aligners out, make sure you place them in their case. Leaving them out and unprotected can set the stage for any number of issues. At our practice, we’ve had patients tell us that their aligners were swiped by a pet or they were warped by a heat source. 

So, even if you’re removing the aligners for a quick brushing, always place them in their case for safekeeping when they aren’t in your mouth.

1. Keep your aligners clean

Given that clear aligners spend most of the time in your mouth, they can collect bacteria and plaque just like your teeth and gums. It’s a great practice to regularly rinse your aligners out and to clean them at the same time as you brush your teeth. 

In fact, you can gently brush your aligners with the same soft-bristled tooth brush you use for your teeth. That said, please don’t use toothpaste to clean your aligners — water, gentle soaps, and denture cleansers are best.

1. Don’t forget to clean the case

If you take the time to dutifully clean your aligners, please don’t forget the case. We want you to use this case whenever the aligners are not in your mouth, so make sure you have a clean landing spot for them. 

We suggest using an antimicrobial cleanser at least once a week to wash the case, in between rinsing the case after each use.

1. Keep up with your appointments

During your teeth straightening journey, we want you to check in with us regularly so that we can update the aligners and make sure that your teeth are moving in the right direction.

We don’t do this every time you get new aligners, which is every week or two, and they will be delivered to your home. 

Instead, we want to see you a few times throughout your orthodontic treatment so that we can make sure everything is on track and to determine whether we need to make any adjustments to the original specs.

Please don’t miss these important appointments.

If you want more suggestions on how to get the most out of your straightening journey with Invisalign or ClearCorrect, we’re happy to help. Simply contact our office in San Jose, California, at 408-478-9081 or request your appointment using our convenient online form.