With Invisalign, the teeth are repositioned via a progressive series of clear plastic trays that can be removed from the mouth at mealtime and for oral hygiene practices. Your dentist chooses the specifications for your trays, which are custom-designed for your unique situation.
Because you can remove the Invisalign trays, you don’t need to worry about food getting trapped in your braces or eating something that will break one of the appliances. You can eat and drink anything you want – within reason. Keep in mind that good general oral health guidelines, like limiting consumption of sweet treats – still apply!
Patients bear more responsibility for treatment outcomes with Invisalign, however. Therefore, it is important to wear the trays as directed by your dentist. You need to wear them for a certain number of hours each day (usually around 22) and switch to the next tray in the series according to the schedule provided to you.
Although Invisalign does make it easier to enjoy a variety of foods and beverages, including tea and coffee, during orthodontic treatment, you still need to take some precautions. For example, if tiny amounts of tea or coffee get trapped between the tray and the teeth, staining can still occur. Therefore, patients may want to rinse their mouths before reinserting the Invisalign tray after enjoying a beverage or meal.
Not only is Invisalign a more convenient system for straightening the smile, the trays are also more comfortable. Without any sharp edges of brackets or wires that can break free, Invisalign eliminates the risk of injuries to the soft oral tissues.
Invisalign offers patients a multitude of benefits, including eliminating dietary restrictions associated with conventional orthodontic treatment. Want to see if this treatment option might be feasible for you? Schedule a consultation at the office of Dr. Philip Kozlow to get more information about Invisalign and how it might be helpful in your case.
