My Invisalign Treatment Is Over - What Now?

For the longest time, you could not straighten your teeth without metal braces. But if you already have self-esteem issues because of tooth alignment, these metal braces unfortunately did not do anything to help that right away.

Enter Invisalign, a much more discreet way to help patients get their perfectly straight teeth! Because the aligners are clear, they are almost undetectable while wearing them, and are able to improve tooth alignment without drawing even more attention to your teeth.

While receiving the Invisalign treatment, you will still need to see your orthodontist routinely to make sure your teeth follow the desired realignment plan. However, many patients might not realize that finishing their Invisalign treatment does not mean the end of their aftercare.

Here’s what happens after your Invisalign treatment is over.
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How to Maintain Your Smile Post-Invisalign

Once you are done with your Invisalign treatment, you enter the maintenance stage, which is also necessary for patients who use metal braces to straighten their teeth.

Maintenance is necessary because if you do not care for your newly straight smile, you can experience:

• Teeth starting to shift again
• Teeth returning to their initial position
• Wasting all your initial financial investment

Proper maintenance post-Invisalign starts with retainers. They are essentially another type of tray you can wear to ensure the results you achieved with the Invisalign treatment are not undone.

There are some retainer tips to be aware of:

• Don’t eat while wearing them
• Don’t drink hot beverages
• Rinse them before you put them back into your mouth, and clean them once a day

The retainers should be worn every single day, all day, for around 1 year after the Invisalign treatment. After that, you can switch to only wearing them at night to ensure your smile stays the way you want it.

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Retainer Tips After Invisalign

Wearing and taking good care of your retainer after Invisalign treatment is crucial to maintaining a straight smile that lasts for years to come. Failing to properly wear or care for your retainer can cause your teeth to shift back into the alignment you had prior to receiving Invisalign.

Here are some quick tips to take note of when wearing your retainer:

• Refrain from eating foods or hot beverages while wearing the retainer
• Make sure to rinse the retainer before you put it back into your mouth
• Clean your retainer once a day
• Wear your retainer every day all day for one year after Invisalign treatment
• After a year, you may wear the retainer only at night

Here's how to make sure your retainer can last for the long run:

• Store your retainer in a container for protection when not in use
• Clean your retainer with soap and water
• Be sure to take out your retainer before eating or drinking hot beverages
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Other Post-Invisalign Care Tips

One of the best things you can do to protect your new smile is to always stay on top of your oral care needs. Here are a few tips for keeping up with your oral health:

• Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day
• Use dental floss to get food particles and bacteria from between your teeth
• Make sure you clean the tongue as well, as bacteria can accumulate in this area
• Drink plenty of tap water and use fluoride toothpaste
• Limit snacking and habits such as smoking, which can impact oral health
• Avoid grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw
• Visit your Seattle dentist routinely to really make sure all your dental needs are met 
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Interested in Invisalign? We Can Help!

If you are dealing with misaligned teeth and want to change your smile, Dr. Yoni and Dr. Bean are here to help you get the best tooth alignment care!

To get started, schedule a visit at Green Leaf Dental online, or call us at (206) 316-2351 for more information.