What to Expect with Clear Aligner Therapy

Clear braces, or clear aligner orthodontics, make it convenient to get a well-aligned and healthy smile. If you’re considering clear braces to help you meet your oral health goals, you can expect any of the following during your daily life and treatment with aligner therapy: 

Meal Time: Your aligners will need to be taken out while you eat and drink to avoid damaging their transparency or structure. You should only be drinking water while your aligners are in – beverages like sodas and coffee can cause damage to the plastic of your aligner trays.

Brushing and Flossing Your Teeth: This one’s easy – your aligners pop out, allowing you to brush and floss according to your normal habits.

Getting New Aligners Every Two Weeks:  Each set of clear aligners moves your teeth closer to ideal position. When you get a new tray, about every two weeks, it’s normal to experience slight discomfort as your teeth adjust. However, this will dissipate after a few days, allowing you to wear your new aligner trays more comfortably.

Cleaning Your Aligners: It’s a good idea to clean your trays as often as your teeth, to prevent food debris and bacteria from becoming trapped in the aligner. You can use water or mouthwash to rinse out the tray, or you can even gently scrub the tray with a toothpaste-free tooth brush. Toothpaste can be abrasive and scratch the surface of the aligners, making them cloudy.

Getting Best Results: To see ideal, final results, it’s essential to wear your clear aligners for at least 22 hours a day and to only remove them for meals and daily cleaning. Keep in mind, regular braces provide predictable treatment because they’re bonded to teeth, but clear aligners are removable – making you, the patient, an important part of how successful your treatment is.

Our Cynthiana dental office provides ClearCorrect clear braces for patients in need of orthodontic care, but who want to avoid standard metal braces. For more information on clear aligner therapy, call our office for assistance or to schedule your consultation.