Invisalign for Teens: A Complete Parent’s Guide

How Does Eating Change with Invisalign?

Here are the four conditions that need to be followed during the Invisalign treatment:

1. Aligner Removal Before Meals: Remove the aligners before eating or drinking. The plastic of the aligner can get damaged, or the food particles can get trapped. In order to maintain oral hygiene, aligner removal is necessary. 
2. Food Restrictions: Avoid hard, sticky, chewy, or stain-causing foods. The hard or crunchy foods can crack the plastic or damage it. The chewy foods stick with the aligners, destroying the aesthetics and giving space to bacterial production. 
3. Drinks to Avoid: Colored, dark drinks can stain the aligners, which can affect their transparency. Hot beverages warp the thermoplastic, changing the shape of the custom-made design. The change in the shape of plastic affects the volume of pressure on teeth. It delayed the treatment process, as the new set takes time to build. 
4. Post-Meal Routine: Brushing and flossing the teeth to remove any food particles is necessary. It prevents bacterial production and plaque formation in teeth. Clean the alignment with lukewarm water to rinse any saliva or bacterial particles from it before reinserting it in the mouth.

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Can Invisalign Affect How You Talk?

Yes, the Invisalign treatment also affects speech. This change is temporary, and the patient adapts to it in a few days or a week. The tongue and teeth interaction changes; most patients find it difficult to pronounce letters “s” and “z”. They can overcome it in a shorter time period with slow speaking and leading aloud to improve the clarity. Saliva production in the mouth increases as the mouth considers the aligners as a foreign body. Other people don’t even notice this change; it is more prominent to the patient. When the orthodontist shifts the patient to a new set of aligners, these changes appear again. In case of persistent speech issues, discuss with the orthodontist; it can be due to a fit issue. 

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What Daily Routines Should You Expect?

Here are the five things that add to the daily routine with the Invisalign treatment:

1. Wearing Schedule: The first and most important thing that comes to mind for Invisalign treatment is compliance. The patient is required to put on the aligners for 20-22 hours each day for effective results. Missing a day or two causes the teeth to move back to their past alignment. It wastes time and increases the treatment timeline. 
2. Cleaning Aligners: Clean the aligners with lukewarm water and a soft-bristle brush once or twice a day. Or after every meal. This rinses out the saliva from the aligners, making them more hygienic to put back in the mouth. Use Invisalign rinsing crystals for deep cleaning the aligners. Place them in the crystals and water solution for 15 minutes. Avoid using hot water; it distorts and damages the plastic.
3. Oral Hygiene Routine: Brush and floss the teeth after every meal to clean out any trapped food particles. It maintains oral hygiene to prevent bacterial production in teeth, cavities, or gum diseases. Flossing removes plaque and debris from areas that a toothbrush cannot reach.
4. Carrying Essentials: Keep the toothpaste, toothbrush, flosser, and case, and the cleaning components in a travel kit. It ensures the routine cleaning even while traveling or at the office. Chewies are used to fit the aligners on teeth perfectly. So, place them in the kit too. 
5. Checkups & Aligner Changes: Ensure proper compliance to expect good results in the predicted time period. Visit the orthodontist on scheduled appointments to monitor the changes in the teeth and receive the new set of aligners. 

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What Lifestyle Adjustments Are Needed?

These four lifestyle adjustments are needed with aligners:

1. Eating Out & Social Events: Carry a travel kit at social events and remove the aligners before eating. Place them safely in their case and brush or floss before reinserting them. Rinse with water at least in the absence of a flosser. Avoid sugary or acidic drinks at events to prevent staining. 
2. Sports & Physical Activities: Remove the aligners during sports or other physical activities. Preferably, use a mouthguard to shield the teeth from any accidental injury. In low-impact activities like cycling, running, or yoga, there’s no need to remove the aligners. Snug them with teeth perfectly to avoid their interference in performance.
3. Travel Considerations: Keep the essential kit, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, cleaners, and the case, while traveling. Carry an extra set of aligners for a longer travel period as a backup. 
4. Social Confidence: The clear plastic of the aligners increases self-esteem in public areas. Teens are more sensitive to their looks. Minor speech changes are common and can be solved with time, yet the benefit of a straighter smile is significant. It enhances confidence for a longer period at the end of treatment. 

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How to Overcome Common Challenges with Invisalign?

Here are the four ways to overcome the common difficulties in the treatment:

1. Soreness or Tightness: It is normal to feel soreness or tightness at the start of treatment, which changes with time. Use pain relievers like ibuprofen to handle discomfort, especially for an hour before shifting to a new tray set. Aligner chewers also set the aligner snugly with the teeth and remove any extra space or air. Prefer eating soft foods in the first few days and shift to the new tray before going to bed. 
2. Dry Mouth or Excess Saliva: Invisalign treatment causes the saliva to be overproduced or dry mouth, which resolves with time. Stay hydrated with the excessive intake of water in case of mouth dryness. Consider using sugar-free mints or gums to maintain saliva flow.
3. Staining Concerns: Remove the aligners before drinking or eating to prevent staining. Clean them regularly with cleaning solutions to remove any debris or for deep cleaning. Floss and brush after every meal to prevent bacterial buildup or plaque formation.  
4. Lost or Broken Aligners: Contact the orthodontist in case of broken or lost aligners. Leaving the problem without a solution can ruin the progress. An orthodontist mostly recommends wearing the previous tray to save the results, as it needs time to rebuild the same aligner set. Learn from mistakes and try to save the aligner in their case to prevent such a situation.