Care Tips and Tricks

Posted on October 18, 2021

You want the best smile—so you use the best treatments. Both braces and Invisalign have proven to be the best means of aligning your teeth for both an aesthetic and healthy smile! A large aspect of the effectiveness of these treatments is whether or not you are using them right. Proper care (for both the retainers or braces themselves, as well as your oral health) will make the treatment process as smooth and comfortable as possible!

Hygiene

Having trays or brackets constantly on your teeth create a breeding ground for bacteria against your enamel. Counteracting this is essential to keeping your teeth healthy! Brush and floss routinely; after every meal, if possible! Spend a little extra time on your flossing and brushing around braces brackets, and brush Invisalign retainers daily.

Comfort

Both braces and Invisalign put pressure on your teeth. This pressure may require that you take mild painkillers when discomfort is most apparent. Sometimes, braces can feel like they are “rubbing” your cheeks or lips, so look into braces wax that you can use to cover these braces. 

Invisalign is much less likely to cause any rubbing. If you feel your gums feel sensitive, use a sand-paper like surface (like a nail file) to sand down the edges of your trays until they are smooth and a bit more shallow, not extending above your teeth too much. These tricks will alleviate any abrasiveness and discomfort that sometimes comes with aligners!

Effectiveness

In order for any treatment to really work, consistency is key. The best results are going to come from routine updates and use of your treatments: be diligent with your appointments to adjust your braces, and keep your aligning trays in every possible minute, except eating, drinking and brushing! Give these tools the proper time they need to do the job you want them to do!

Check out more tips, tricks, and answers to FAQ’s here to get you feeling confident and comfortable with your treatment methods.