There is no doubt that Invisalign has garnered a lot of attention over the last few years and has piqued the interest of many.
Many people are now familiar with invisible braces, but above all because they are an attractive alternative to conventional metal braces and are therefore particularly popular with adults.
But young people are also finding more and more pleasure in the idea of Invisalign. But as soon as something is on everyone’s lips, misunderstandings and myths inevitably arise, which confuse many who are considering Invisalign treatment.
For all those who are still hesitating, we would now like to provide a little more clarity.
1. For Invisalign to work, the braces must also be worn.
One of the most attractive features of Invisalign braces is that they are removable. In contrast to ordinary braces, you can easily remove them when eating or cleaning your teeth to make these processes more pleasant.
This also means that you don’t have to be careful about avoiding certain foods that could otherwise get caught in the wires and brackets. But this is exactly where the danger lies. The splints must be worn for at least 22 hours a day or more to be effective.
The risk here is of course extremely high that after brushing your teeth you simply forget to put the splint back in or simply let a day go by without splints because it is more comfortable. For effective treatment, however, this must be avoided.
2. Teeth must be cleaned after every meal.
Thorough dental care is essential for an Invisalign treatment. Therefore, it is also important to brush and floss your teeth after every meal, large or small, to minimize the risk of infection or tooth decay.
One thing you shouldn’t forget: Ideally, the braces should be worn for at least 22 hours a day. It is therefore very easy to imagine how much dental health would suffer from food particles stuck between the teeth.
3. Have realistic expectations.
Just because Invisalign braces are an alternative to regular braces doesn’t mean they can work wonders. Of course, it offers more comfort and looks more aesthetic, but it cannot change the fact that correcting misaligned teeth takes time.
Although the duration of treatment with Invisalign is usually shorter, you should still have realistic expectations of the treatment. Many patients are also surprised to hear that in some cases, after the end of the actual treatment, a “top splint” is still needed, which is worn during sleep and fixes the corrected teeth in the correct position.
Invisalign should therefore not be understood as a magic remedy that delivers immediate results, but as a comfortable alternative to ordinary braces.
4. The treatment is painless (for most).
54% of Invisalign patients reported experiencing mild pain during treatment, while 35% experienced no pain of any kind. Often this discomfort occurs when changing to a new pair of splints, as they put pressure on the teeth in different places than before to achieve the desired position.
The good news is that these symptoms usually disappear after 2-3 days and you quickly get used to the new braces.
5. Invisalign isn’t for everyone.
Although the transparent braces can correct most misaligned teeth, they also have their limits in certain cases. For example, Invisalign is ideal for treating mild to moderate cases of overbite or underbite or even tooth gaps.
In the case of serious orthodontic cases such as a severe overbite or underbite or severely twisted teeth, it is advisable to use classic treatment methods.
6. Staining drinks are a no-go.
There are two reasons why Invisalign patients will need to limit their morning coffee consumption: First, the coffee stains the splints; and secondly, the daily consumption of coffee will ensure that a large part of the time that the splint is permitted to be removed is spent cleaning the teeth after the coffee. The same applies to drinks such as tea or red wine. If you should – exceptionally – have one of these drinks, you should not forget to take care of your teeth afterwards.
7. The braces must not be cleaned with toothpaste.
The braces are worn on the teeth, but should never be cleaned like them. Since toothpaste contains substances that act like abrasives, using them can lead to deposits in the braces, in which bacteria can then collect. After a while, these bacteria can then start to smell unpleasant and discolour the splint. Instead, you should use a mild soap, which can be used without hesitation to clean the removable braces.
8. Weight loss is a possible side benefit.
Those currently on a diet will be happy to know that Invisalign can indeed help shed a few pounds. After all, wearing the braces forces you to only eat at certain times and avoid unhealthy snacks. The effort of brushing your teeth after every small piece of chocolate deters many from even reaching for the bar in the first place and thus helps to avoid unnecessary calories unintentionally. The result of this self-discipline becomes noticeable to one or the other after a few weeks on the scales.
9. The braces are almost invisible.
Of course, they’re not 100% invisible, but many don’t even notice them even when they’re right in front of you. You can also look at it like this: Invisalign has been around for a few years now, but hardly anyone has ever noticed that their counterpart is wearing invisible braces. Conversely, it’s not difficult to remember the last time you saw someone with regular metal braces. That alone underscores the effectiveness of the invisible splints that Invisalign offers.
