
Many people who have undergone orthodontic care with a standard brace will know what this typically entails. With a standard brace fitted, you may be required to brush your teeth more regularly and even use interdental brushes to remove food debris. But is this the case with Invisalign London? Read on to learn more about what is involved in the daily maintenance of these invisible aligners.
Washing
Invisible aligners are generally made from a polymer blend; visually they are clear but the plastic that they are made from can warp out of shape if placed next to a radiator, or in a tumble dryer accidentally. Simply rinsing it under a hot tap can warp it too! To keep your aligners clean, you will need to rinse them under a cool water tap and remove any stains with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Luckily, any staining to the aligners will not be long lasting, as each aligner is changed every 14 days.
Timing
In order to get the most from your clear aligners, you will need to wear them for 22 hours per day out of 24. This is one of the key reasons why this option is not available to children, as many dentists believe that they would simply not stick to it. In order for you to see the results that you want from wearing a clear aligner, you need to stick to this. Not doing so can cause the orthodontic process to slow down or for your teeth to revert back to their former positions.
Pain relief
Clear aligners are designed for you to get a straighter smile without the use of a brace. But you will need to be prepared for some pressure. The aligners are tightly fitted to your teeth and when a new one in the sequence is applied, it is likely to feel tight but this is so it can move your teeth. So, you may need to purchase over the counter pain relief. Some patients report that the aligners themselves may feel sharp or that they may curve inwards towards the tongue. This can be mitigated with the use of dental wax or gently sanding the aligners. Just be sure that you do not damage the plastic and that the internal part of the aligner remains intact.
Contact with your team
You also need to maintain regular contact with your dental team, as this will allow you to highlight any potential issues that you may be having with your invisible aligner. They will also be able to provide you with appointments if they feel that you are experiencing an issue which needs to be resolved quickly. Which can occur with aligners which do not fit correctly.

Replacement of lost aligners
Aligners are removable and therefore, many patients lose them. Rather than skipping to the next aligner in the series, you will need to contact your dentist to have a replacement aligner sent out so that the orthodontic treatment can continue as planned. Not doing so may result in an issue with the overall treatment.