Once upon a time, orthodontic treatment was relatively uncommon.

Now it’s ubiquitous! For instance, around 4 million people currently wear braces in America.

There are multiple reasons for this increase in orthodontics.

For one thing, once-held stigma decreased as more people accessed the treatment. However, let’s not forget the value society places on perfect teeth these days! It makes sense that people have sought effective means of cultivating pristine sets of pearly whites.

Of the different treatment approaches available, Invisalign is one that’s now highly prized. Before getting Invisalign, though, there are certain things to know about.

The treatment places ‘invisible’ aligners over your teeth to pull them into position. Versus traditional types of orthodontics, they can be more comfortable, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing. All sounds good, right?

Well, it is! But it’s still worth knowing what you’re getting into. Looking for insight into Invisalign?

Keep reading!

1. You Wear Them for Significant Time Periods

The first thing to know about Invisalign is the time investment required!

You have to commit to wearing the aligners if they’re going to work. Alas, a few hours a day just won’t cut it. Expect to have them in your mouth for at least 20 hours every day, with 22 hours being the recommended length of time.

The good news is that you (and everyone you meet) will hardly know they’re there. After all, the primary incentive behind Invisalign is its undetectable nature.

2. Your Overall Treatment Time Varies

Here’s another quick time-related piece of key information:

There’s no way to know exactly how long you’ll be getting Invisalign treatment. It’s different for everybody, depending on the extent of the orthodontic work required. As you might imagine, more significant dental requirements take longer to resolve.

Thankfully, though, it’s renowned as a fast and effective way to treat even serious cases. Rest assured that Invisalign is one of the swiftest ways to enjoy a perfect set of teeth.

3. You May Experience Slight Changes in Speech

Invisalign lives up to its reputation.

It’s a remarkable set of near-invisible aligners that pulls your teeth into position. For all intents and purposes, people won’t know you’re wearing them.

…Until you talk.

That’s right, the aligners can be more noticeable in their impediment to speech. You might experience a slight lisp as you get used to wearing them.

Don’t worry, though. This will fade in time as you adjust to these new dental additions!

4. You Might Feel Some Discomfort

Orthodontic treatment has a reputation for pain and discomfort.

This is one particular reason that people have historically avoided it! Traditional metal braces, surgery, and headgear can sometimes be somewhat uncomfortable.

You’ll be pleased to hear that the experience of Invisalign is far gentler.

Nonetheless, the act of moving teeth into a more desirable position often involves an element of soreness. Thus, this can be a feature of Invisalign too.

5. Your Dental Hygiene Becomes All-Important

Dental hygiene is of paramount importance in general.

However, it’s of particular value during Invisalign treatment, where regular brushing and flossing are key to success. Failure to do so can cause food particles to get trapped between your teeth and the aligners.

In time, that can lead to damaging bacteria forming.

Bad breath and yellowing aligners are soon to follow. As such, you’ll have to brush your teeth after every meal, before putting your aligners back in.

6. You Have to Clean the Aligners Too

The aligners themselves need cleaning as well.

Remember, the entire value on Invisalign is that people can’t see them! They come as crystal clear solutions that fit over your teeth and go unnoticed.

Forget to clean them properly, though, and you’ll experience yellowing and discoloration that would almost defeat the point! Looking after your aligners by cleaning them regularly is important to maintaining their see-through nature.

7. You (Might) Have to Avoid Certain Food and Drink

Certain food and drink have a habit of staining your teeth.

Think coffee, tea, and red-wine as just a few examples. Now, there’s nothing stopping you from consuming them.

Unfortunately, though, they can stain your aligners too. Unless you want to be cleaning your teeth dozens of times throughout the day, you might find yourself avoiding these stain-inducing foods and drinks.

8. You’ll Enjoy Whiter Teeth!

Talk of staining aside, Invisalign has a nice secondary benefit of whitening your teeth.

For one thing, you’re cleaning your teeth on a regular basis, which helps. Likewise, you might end up avoiding certain food/drinks that might otherwise stain your teeth.

However, the aligners take this one step further.

Imagine cleaning your teeth with a whitening toothpaste before putting them back in. They help a) keep the whitening agents against your teeth, and b) protect them from stain-inducing elements in the environment.

You’ll be smiling more, and enjoying a happier life as a result, in no time!

9. You Wear a Retainer Afterwards

Another thing to know is that treatment doesn’t always stop at your last aligner.

At the ‘end’ of the process, your teeth are now in perfect position. Yet there’s nothing stopping them reverting to their old positions if you suddenly remove the aligners.

Thus, you might have to wear a post-treatment retainer at night time to keep everything in place.

That might seem disappointing. Remember the time, effort and money you committed to getting them sorted though. It makes sense to take any extra steps to ensure everything stays that way!

10. You Can Get Them Regardless of Age

A quick one to finish:

There’s a common misconception that Invisalign is only suitable for younger people. That’s just not true! Assuming your teeth are in a decent state, anybody (regardless of age) can have them fitted.

Know These Things Before Getting Invisalign

Orthodontic treatment and Invisalign, in particular, are more popular than ever before.

However, there are essential things to know before getting Invisalign. Reading up on them will ensure you fully understand the process you’re entering into.

Hopefully, this post has proved enlightening in that regard.

Do you feel ready to start with Invisalign? Contact us today to see how we can help!