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Can you still maintain a healthy diet while using Invisalign? Invisalign is a custom-made aligner used for the treatment of misalignment. The appliance works by pushing the teeth to its rightful place. The appliance is marketed as the most advanced clear aligner system in the world because it is convenient and widely acknowledged as the most preferred method to straighten the teeth. For proper results when using Invisalign, the aligners are typically interchanged by an orthodontist every two weeks for extended periods of between 3 to 18 months or longer. Most orthodontics recommends wearing the aligner for about 20 hours a day.
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Using Invisalign
Once the treatment is complete, the patient is left with well-aligned teeth and a beautiful smile. Invisalign is a welcome relief to patients who desire to achieve natural smile without having to put up with embarrassing metal brackets. The aligner is comfortable and gentle on the gums and cheeks. The clear aligner is made from smart-Track materials that are specially designed to fit the gum line. An impression of the patient’s teeth is accurately generated with the aid of advanced computer software. The design makes it easier to place and remove the appliance.
How to Maintain a Healthy Diet With Your Clear Aligner
The clear aligner treatment is safe for children, teens and adults. When you visit an orthodontic clinic, the dental expert will first analyze your teeth to check the area’s weaknesses before recommending the right aligner for you. While wearing the appliance, you are strongly advised to follow the doctor’s instructions in order to achieve the best results. The doctor will advise you on what foods to take and avoid, and guide you through the process of maintaining your appliance. Proper care for the plastic aligner is important because misplacement after meals or improper usage can seriously jeopardize treatment by causing unnecessary delays.
If you are wearing the aligner or plan on having the treatment, you are probably wondering how eating healthy goes hand in hand with wearing the appliance. One of the greatest incentives of using the appliance is that it strengthens your teeth without limiting your healthy diet choices. The tray should be removed before taking meals and when drinking, flossing and brushing teeth. Exposing the aligners to crushing forces that come from chewing can easily damage or break the aligners. Remember, the aligner must be cleaned regularly after removal. For longevity, there are several foods you need to avoid when using the appliance.
The Good, Bad and Ugly
The foods include popcorn, pretzels, cookies, nuts and hard bread or sticky chocolate and candy. The orthodontist may also suggest cutting down on your morning coffee and brushing your teeth regularly while using Invisalign. In place of these foods, eating healthy foods such as milk, avocado and carrots is highly encouraged. Because Avocadoes contain healthy fats and potassium, which is great for strengthening the bones and enhancing jaw mobility they are highly recommended. Carrots, on its part, contain high concentrations of vitamins and essential minerals that help keep the teeth healthy. Unlike carbonated drinks, milk is rich in calcium and does not corrode teeth.
Calcium helps strengthen the enamel while keeping the teeth strong. Patients are also advised to plan their meals and avoid the habit of overcompensating meals. If you are a fan of snacking, you can create a snacking timetable. When planning your meals, make sure your daily caloric and nutritional needs are met to prevent hunger pangs and malnutrition. Wearing the aligner for durations of 20 hours can test your levels of endurance to the limit. Some people react to this by taking too much food to compensate for lost time. To overcome this habit, you need to promote self-discipline by sticking to your daily snacking schedule and meal plan.
How to Remove Smoke Stains From Invisalign
Learning how to remove smoke stains from Invisalign is a key part of maintenance. You can start by placing the aligners under running water and using a soft toothbrush to clean the appliance gently. Regular cleaning will undoubtedly keep your aligners clean, stain free and eliminate the accumulation of undesirable white films. The aligner an also be cleaned through denture bath. You can speak to the dental expert to suggest the best soluble tablets or professional cleansing kit to use.
As a precautionary measure, users are highly advised to avoid smoking because the nicotine element found in a cigarette can easily stain the aligner and render the appliance ineffective in treatment. A number of clinical studies have shown that smoking reduces the amount of blood flow entering the gums. This can greatly impede blood supply to various areas of the teeth, making it difficult to achieve the desired treatment outcome at the end of the day.
Is the Treatment Right for Me?
Firstly, using Invisalign may not be appropriate for patients with severe malocclusion or badly misaligned bite. The treatment works best in situations where the tooth needs to be tilted into place. Some of the dental conditions that can be treated using with clear aligner are crowded teeth, gaps in teeth and a plethora of mild bite problems such as openbite, underbite and overbite. Underbite often prevents the normal functioning of the molars. The condition can cause tooth wear and pain in the jaws.
An open bite can cause painful chewing and speech impairment. If untreated, the condition can lead to more serious Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ). You can easily establish if treatment with clear aligner is right for you by consulting a dental expert. Therefore, Tisseront Orthodontist is a leading aesthetic orthodontic treatment center based in Reston, Virginia. The lead practitioner, Dr. Tisseront and his team have created a warm, friendly and fun environment for your treatment.
Dr. Tisseront is State-of-the-art
The state-of-the-art center is the largest provider of Harmony customized braces in the US and offers various invisible treatments options. Accordingly, the center was selected the 2018 Silver Invisalign™ Provider. Above all, our lingual and clear braces are offered to people of all ages, including adults and teens. For best dental treatment experience and advice, visit the Tissseront Orthodontics offices in Reston or call 703-773-1200. Lastly, patients from neighboring Vienna, Springfield, Fairfax and Arlington are all invited to experience the Dr. Tisseront service.
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Tisseront Orthodontics
11720 Plaza America Drive, Ste. 110
Reston, VA 20190-4762
Phone: (703) 773-1200
Can You Maintain a Healthy Diet? (While Using Invisalign)
