It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for…your orthodontist tells you that your treatment with Invisalign is complete and you can proudly unveil your award-winning smile to the world. Congratulations! Not only have you undergone treatment to better your smile, you’ve also addressed the issues affecting your teeth, perhaps for years. It’s a big accomplishment and one to celebrate, but don’t lose sight of what’s next. Taking care of your smile after Invisalign is imperative. Here are some tips to help you maintain a perfect smile for life.
The Importance of Your Retainers
While you’re wearing your aligners, there’s continuous gentle pressure being applied to the teeth to help move them to the right positions within the mouth. When that pressure is no longer there, this is when you can run into trouble. You see, our teeth are always at risk of shifting, no matter how old we are, which is why retainers are key. Your orthodontist will fit you for retainers to keep this from happening once you are no longer wearing your Invisalign aligners. It’s crucial to wear your retainers and listen to your orthodontist’s instructions, or you risk having to undergo treatment all over again.
Proper Retainer Wear and Maintenance
Like patients who have had braces, Invisalign patients will be instructed to wear their retainers following treatment. There are typically two types of retainers that are worn after treatment:
- Removable
- Fixed
Obviously, the removable option allows you to wear it when you need to and remove it when desired (while still following your orthodontist’s instructions). The fixed option is permanently cemented to the teeth, so it can’t be removed. At first, you’ll need to wear your retainers all the time, but eventually, you’ll only need to wear them for a few nights each week to maintain your spectacular smile. Be sure to properly maintain your retainers, so that they will last for years.
Life After Invisalign
Life after Invisalign treatment is exciting! It means being able to reap the benefits of all your hard work and being proud of your new smile. It also means taking on the responsibility of maintaining that beautiful smile for life. Wear your retainers and maintain them properly, and don’t forget about keeping up with all of the proper oral hygiene practices you’ve learned. Brush and floss correctly to avoid tooth decay and gum disease. The last thing you want is to have your smile ruined by lack of care.
When you keep in mind the importance of taking care of your smile after Invisalign, you can maximize your chances of having a spectacular smile for life. You’ve put in a lot of hard work in getting to where you are now, so keep it up by listening to your orthodontist.
At Charleston Orthodontist Specialists, we’re ready to help you get the smile you’ve always wanted! Call (843) 4-BRACES to get started.
