Off-Track with Your Invisalign Treatment? Here Are 4 Tips to Help!

Getting a straighter smile became incredibly convenient of Invisalign in the late 1990s. The innovative clear aligners provided people of all ages a way to effectively correct misaligned teeth with virtually undetectable treatment! It has now helped over 5 million people get the smile of their dreams. However, those perfected pearly whites can be delayed if you get off course from your Invisalign treatment plan. Here are four tips to help you get back on track.

#1. Use Invisalign Chewies

Your clear aligners are custom-made to seamlessly fit along the contours of your pearly whites and gums. This is to ensure they “track” your teeth–moving your teeth according to your Invisalign plan. However, sometimes there is a gap between the trays and your teeth, which can result in improper tracking. This can seriously delay your treatment if steps aren’t immediately taken to correct this issue.

Invisalign chewies are soft, flexible rolls of chewable material than can help place your aligners in the proper position. By simply chewing on them for a few minutes after placing your new trays into your mouth, you can ensure that they fit properly over your teeth and keep your progress on track.

#2. Wear Your Aligners for at Least 22 Hours a Day

In order for Invisalign treatment to be successful, it is important to be consistent with the requirements of the plan. The removable aligners add more convenience than traditional braces by not limiting particular foods and cleaning your teeth without metal brackets and wires getting in your way. However, it is easier to get off track with treatment by losing them or not sticking to the expected hours of wear. To be sure your Invisalign process is not prolonged, put your trays safely in a container when eating or drinking something other than water and be sure to stick with wearing them at 22 hours of the day.

#3. Ask Your Dentist About Back-Tracking

Are your new aligners not fitting properly? It could be because your previous set failed to move your teeth fully into their expected place in preparation for the new trays. If you think that’s why your teeth aren’t tracking, ask your dentist about “backtracking”. This allows you to wear your previous aligners for an additional week or two to ensure your teeth are moving properly into the designated space.

#4. Talk to Your Dentist About an Invisalign Treatment Revision

At your initial Invisalign consultation, your dentist will take records of your teeth to create a custom treatment plan to achieve your optimal smile. However, if your teeth are not moving quickly enough or are not progressing according to your Invisalign strategy, your dentist can make a revision to the original plan. Depending on the severity, they may provide you with new aligners or use Invisalign attachments to move your teeth into the desired location.

Getting off-track is sometimes a part of life, even with Invisalign. With the help of these tips and assistance from your dentist, your smile can be on the right path as soon as possible!

About the Author

Dr. J. Peter St. Clair has been serving smiles for almost 30 years. With personalized care that is exemplified by a 5-star rating on Google, he can help you achieve your dental goals! By offering digital imaging to preview your smile and individual plans based on your unique needs, your Invisalign treatment will be in the best hands throughout your entire treatment. To learn more about Invisalign, contact him through his website or call (978) 948-2030.