3 Things You Should Know Before Getting Invisalign
If you’re self-conscious about the way your teeth look because they’re crooked, the last thing you probably want to do is get very-visible traditional metal braces. Though braces have always been acceptable and even cool for kids and teens, for adults, getting braces is a bit out of the ordinary. Yes, people will stare.
That’s why so many adults in Sandy Springs and all over Atlanta choose Invisalign when it comes to straightening their teeth. Invisalign clear aligners are totally invisible, so you don’t have to feel self-conscious about wearing them if you’re getting braces later than all your friends.
But before you get Invisalign, you should know that Invisalign treatment is a lot different from what your friends have experienced with braces. Here’s a handy list of three things you should know about Invisalign before you start treatment.
1. You don’t have to change what you eat
With traditional braces, you’ve got to change your diet for the entire length of your treatment, which can be as long as two years! Because of the way traditional braces are constructed, with the metal or ceramic brackets cemented to the surface of the teeth, it’s important to avoid crunchy or sticky foods that could cause your brackets to pop off. That means no popcorn, apples, caramel, toffee, etc. for the entirety of your braces treatment.
But with Invisalign, you can eat what you want! All you have to do is simply take out your aligners before a meal or snack! Just remember to brush and floss before putting your aligners back in.
2. You may speak a little funny at first
Talking while wearing clear aligners takes a little practice. Because the aligners cover the back of your teeth, where your tongue needs to move in speech, it can cause a slight bit of difficulty with enunciating words for the first few days.
At our Invisalign office in Sandy Springs, our patients always laugh about this, saying it wasn’t a big deal, but they’re sure glad they didn’t have to make a presentation at work the day they picked up their aligners! (Though really, if you DO have to make a presentation the day you pick up your aligners, you can just take them out while you’re speaking!)
3. You’ll have to floss, seriously this time
If we had a dollar for every patient who told us, “I floss every day – honest!” but didn’t, we could close down our Sandy Springs Invisalign office and retire to the Caribbean.
Flossing might be a little inconvenient, but it is critically important during Invisalign treatment. Invisalign aligners fit right up against the teeth, gently pushing them into the proper position. If there is food debris stuck between your teeth, the aligner will keep that debris pushed tight up against your teeth all day, without the benefit of saliva to wash it away or neutralize bacteria. It’s critical to floss after every meal during your Invisalign treatment, because if not, you could end up with cavities.
Looking for Invisalign in Sandy Springs?
Give us a call today! We are Sandy Springs’ Invisalign experts.