Invisalign clear aligners are for adults and Invisalign is for teens who want to straighten their teeth without the obvious look of braces. But before choosing this orthodontic treatment option, there are a few important factors you should consider.
1. You have to wear your aligners full time.
For Invisalign to be effective, it's a full-time commitment. You have to wear your aligners 22 hours a day, every day, and you should only ever take them out when your eating, or when you’re brushing or flossing your teeth.
It can be really easy to just give in and take a break with these removable orthodontic appliances, so if you may not be able to resist, Invisalign might not be the right choice for you.
2. It can be hard to talk at first.
While you can't see your Invisalign aligners very well while wearing them, you will be able to hear them at first. Until you get used to talking with your new aligners, you may find you’re doing a lot of lisping and mumbling.
For advice on talking with braces (most of which applies to Invialign too) click here.
3. It may not be right for you.
Invisalign is ideal for minor or moderate orthodontic problems. For more complex issues, treatment with Invisalign may ultimately take an extremely long time, making braces a better choice.
4. You’ll need to brush after EVERY meal.
And you’ll definitely want to. If you don't, you'll be sealing food particles in against your teeth under your aligners. It won’t feel or look good, and more importantly, it creates a paradise for bacteria that cause tooth decay and foul breath. So invest in a travel tooth brush or keep one in your desk at work.
5. They can stain.
You may notice that your Invisalign aligners become stained by certain drinks. So although you don’t have to take your aligners out to drink your coffee, you may want to devote some of your (maximum) two-hour aligner break each day to that morning cup of coffee.
6. Those extra snacks may not be worth it.
You’ll find you have to pretty mindful and strategic about how and when you eat. If you want a snack mid afternoon, it may not be worth it to take out your aligners, eat and then also brush and floss. So make sure you eat enough to last you between meals, or your making a lot of extra work for yourself.
7. It doesn’t really hurt!
Invisalign aligners don’t cause much discomfort. Most of the discomfort that regular braces cause in the result of adjustment appointments, and this simply isn’t an issue with Invisalign. You may feel a bit of pressure of discomfort when you change trays every two weeks, but for most people, this is very minimal.