Harner Orthodontics Post

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Posted on 09/18/2017

Getting the Most out of Invisalign

When you are getting Invisalign in Huntington Beach at Harner Orthodontics, we view your treatment as an investment in a new smile and better oral health. Like any investment, Invisalign takes time and care to get the most bang for your buck. While you are going through your Invisalign treatment, it is important to not only keep your teeth extra clean, but you should also take care to keep your Invisalign aligners clean as well. To help our Huntington & Seal Beach Invisalign patients get the most out of Invisalign treatment, here are a few tips.

Wear them at Least 22 Hours a Day

Invisalign works by constantly keeping pressure on your teeth to gently move them to their desired place, but it only works if you wear them consistently. Harner Orthodontics in Huntington Beach recommends wearing your Invisalign aligners as much as possible, only removing them to eat and brush your teeth. Wearing them as often as possible will give you the fastest results and a quicker treatment time. If it is not feasible for you to wear your Invisalign aligners all the time you should wear them 22 hours a day at a minimum. These two hours can allow you to take a break if you have a new set of aligners that you aren't used to wearing yet.=

H2: Travel Toothbrushes are Your Friend

Screen-Shot-2017-09-18-at-3.27.41-PMWhen going through Invisalign treatment, you have to remove your Invisalign aligners before eating and then brush your teeth before putting them back on. Having to brush your teeth every time can become tricky, especially if you are out of the house and don't have a way to clean your teeth. We recommend all our Huntington and Seal Beach Invisalign patients keep a travel sized toothbrush with them wherever they are. These tiny teeth cleaners are perfectly sized to go anywhere and collapse into their handle, so they are always clean and ready to be used. We recommend getting a bunch of travel sized toothbrushes and leaving wherever you commonly go. Keep one at the office, in your bag, in the car, even at your friend's houses! This way you'll never be far from a toothbrush and don't have to worry about wearing your Invisalign aligners after you eat.

Clean Your Invisalign Aligners Weekly

Keeping your aligners clean is almost as important as keeping your teeth clean. Although your aligners are very strong, they are slightly porous, as most materials are. This means that if not properly taken care of, your aligners can begin to get a buildup of bacteria that can slowly lead to other unwanted dental conditions. There are two ways to clean your Invisalign aligners:

Brushing Your Aligner

 Cleaning your aligners with a small amount of toothpaste and your toothbrush will get rid of all the bacteria that has built up on your aligner, but it does have one unwanted side effect. Over time, the abrasives in your toothpaste will scratch your aligners and cause them to lose their clarity or even yellow.

Using Cleaning Tablets 

Cleaning tablets are perfect for Invisalign aligners because they allow for a full cleaning and do not harm the aligners. We recommend using denture, retainer, or even Invisalign's cleaning crystals to clean your aligners. Just drop the prescribed amount into a glass of water and let your aligners sit. Soon your aligners will be clean and bacteria-free. Do this once a week or more, and you're ready to go!\

H2: Contact Your Local Seal Beach Orthodontist 

Harner Orthodontics is located in Huntington Beach, California and proudly serve the surrounding Cities of Seal Beach and Garden Grove. If you are looking into straightening your teeth with Invisalign or another orthodontic treatment like braces, contact our office today. We are experts in orthodontic treatment and have the latest tools to help accelerate your treatment. Feel free to give us a call and ask us any questions you may have or schedule your first appointment. We can wait to see you!