Clear aligners have gained popularity as a preferred choice in recent times due to their ease of use and potentially more efficient results. However, there are certain key factors to consider before setting forth with your treatment with clear aligners. 

Know your problem

Clear aligners are removable plastic molds that glide onto your teeth and gently straighten them by using a gentle force. The misaligned teeth shift a little at a time, week by week, and eventually reach its desired position, thereby giving you a beautiful smile. The most common types of teeth misalignments that clear aligners treat are — crowding, crossbite, overbite, underbite, open bite, and spacing (gap teeth).

Need for discipline

Clear aligners need to be worn for 20-22 hours every day to ensure maximum efficiency. Any lapse in this routine could affect the speed of the treatment. You have to ensure you insert them as soon as you can after finishing your meal and brushing/flossing. In addition, you need to be careful about not losing you aligners every time you take them out. 

Remember to remove while eating

One of the most noteworthy advantages of clear aligners is the fact that they can be removed during meal times. You do not have limits on what types of food you can eat unlike metal braces. But it’s always important to remember to remove the clear aligners before every meal because eating with clear aligners could lead to increasing risks of tooth decay.

Need for oral care

Maintaining and/or increasing your oral care regime to keep away plaque, tooth decay and staining issues is important. Removing food particles and plaque by brushing and flossing your teeth before reinserting clear aligners after every meal is crucial. Ideally, you will have to carry a toothbrush/toothpaste along with you to work during the day. 

Clear aligners need to be cleaned

Your aligners will need to be regularly cleaned, as well. Our mouths are full of bacteria, which could get trapped within the aligners and lead to cavities and gum diseases. Clear aligners should be washed with clean, lukewarm water or instructions prescribed by the orthodontist. The good news is you will get a new set of aligners approximately every 7 days. 

Retainers are part of the deal

Once the treatment ends with repositioning of the teeth with clear aligners, the possibility of the teeth shifting back to their original position always remains. To ensure this does not happen, you have to wear retainers. Depending on the severity of the issue, some patients have to wear retainers for about two years after treatment depending on your doctors advice.  Some patients also choose to always wear their retainers to protect their investment in Clear aligner therapy. 

As you start your smile journey, it is important to have a clear idea of what all to expect during the process and accordingly prepare for it. Book a complimentary consultation with an OrthoFX provider to know more about the treatment approach that’s best for you with clear aligners.