How to Care for Your Smile After Invisalign

After the 12 to 18 months of care and support from your team at Milnor Orthodontics, you’re finally ready to finish your Invisialign treatment. So, what now? To ensure your brilliant new smile lasts, you’ll have to give your smile the proper upkeep it deserves. Here’s how to care for your smile after Invisalign.

What to Eat After Invisalign

After Invisialign, your teeth are likely to still be sensitive after being shifted into their new positions. To avoid sensitivity or discomfort, avoid chewy, hard or crunchy foods when you can for the first months or so afterward. It is also important to be mindful of any foods that may be particularly hot or cold in temperature. If sensitivity persists, try an over-the-counter pain reliever like Tylenol. You can also regularly rinse and gargle with warm salt water.

Take Care of Your Teeth

Oral hygiene is paramount to the upkeep of every smile. When you are done with Invisalign, frequent flossing and brushing is the key to making sure your new smile continues to look its best.

It’s also important to maintain regular dentist visits to ensure all is well with your smile. It’s always a good habit to see your dentist twice a year, regardless of your orthodontic treatment history. Regular dentist visits are key to detecting any changes in your teeth so you can work with your orthodontist to get things back on track if necessary. Many adult Invisalign patients typically had braces or aligners as teens and had to redo orthodontic treatment in their adult years due to poor after-care, which results in teeth shifting back from their ideal position.

Wear Your Retainer

The most important thing to remember once you have graduated past Invisalign is to wear your retainer. Wearing a retainer helps to prevent your teeth from shifting back to their pre-invisalign position. You must be consistent in wearing your retainer according to your orthodontist’s instructions, typically every day for 9 to 12 months. After that time, you may only have to wear your retainer 3-5 times a week or at night. If you lose your retainer or it gets damaged, don’t stress, just give the office a call as soon as possible to get your treatment back on track.

Part of good dental hygiene is to make sure you routinely clean your retainer. Avoid using toothpaste to clean your retainer as most toothpastes contain abrasives that can affect your retainer and can lead to a buildup of bacteria. It is recommended to use dissolvable tablets made just for dental devices that you drop your retainer into for the best possible clean. It is also important that you replace your retainer every 9 months to a year.

Your team at Milnor isn’t just here to provide initial treatment. We believe a good orthodontic treatment doesn’t end just because a patient no longer wears Invisialign or braces, which is why we’re here to provide you with assistance and answers to your questions as you navigate your new world post-Invisalign too.