If you’ve researched teeth straightening online, you’ve probably noticed plenty of links to information about Invisalign in your search engine results pages. Over the past few decades, Invisalign has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional metal braces. More discreet and patient-friendly than conventional braces, Invisalign is similarly effective at moving teeth into proper position over time.
People who get hung up on the words “over time” often find themselves wondering, “How long does Invisalign treatment take?” With every Invisalign treatment being custom-made to suit the needs of individual patients, there is no set timeline for the treatment that applies to every patient. While that’s the case, the treatment typically lasts 12-18 months.
Although 12-18 months isn’t long to achieve their best smile, some patients ask if there are things they can do to hasten their way through treatment. Luckily, there are some basic things you can do to speed up your treatment and enhance your results along the way.
Wear Your Aligners for the Recommended Time Daily
One of the simplest things you can do to expedite your Invisalign treatment is wear your clear aligners for however long your dentist or orthodontist recommends every day. In general, patients are advised to wear their aligners for a minimum of 20 hours per day although 22 hours is often preferable.
Brush Your Teeth Prior to Inserting Your Aligners
To maximize the number of hours you wear your aligners each day, it can help to only remove them when you eat or drink something other than water. If your aligners trap remnants of food or drink against your teeth, it can cause cavities. Ancillary dental work like getting fillings can slow down your Invisalign treatment.
Keep Your Aligners Clean
Keeping your Invisalign aligners clean can expedite your overall treatment. While you may want to brush your aligners every so often if you’re in a pinch, that’s not the ideal way to clean them as it may cause damage. Instead, you should use a clear, diluted mouthwash, denture cleaner, or the Invisalign cleaning tablets that you can get through your Invisalign dentist or orthodontist to clean your dental trays.
Take Care of Your Aligners
There’s more to taking care of your trays than just keeping them clean. When they’re not in your mouth, your aligners should be in the protective case your dentist or orthodontist gives you. If you leave your unprotected aligners on the edge of the sink, your dog may use them as a chew toy. When you wrap your aligners in a napkin and put them in your purse before a meal, they may suffer damage. If you have to wait to get a replacement set, it may delay your Invisalign treatment unnecessarily.
Choose the Right Invisalign Provider
With Invisalign treatment often lasting a year or more, it’s essential for you to choose the right provider to partner with. We can assure you that you can’t go wrong with the team of orthodontists at our Charlotte, NC office.
Reach out to Clearsmile Orthodontics to schedule an appointment to have a custom Invisalign treatment plan made for you today.