Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

Straight, perfectly aligned teeth can improve the look of your smile and give you confidence. However, some people don't want to deal with the hassle and look of braces. Wearing metal braces might have been normal in high school, but many adults feel it looks unprofessional and childish. Fortunately, you don't need braces to straighten your teeth. Invisalign uses clear retainers to gently push your teeth into alignment. If you believe that this is the right choice for you, schedule an Invisalign consultation with your dentist. Here are four questions you should ask at your appointment:

1. How long will your treatment be?

You will probably want to know how long your Invisalign treatment will take. According to The Orthodontists, straightening your teeth using clear aligners can take anywhere from one year to a year and a half. Each individual case is different, and you may wear your clear aligners for a longer or shorter period of time, depending on the severity of your teeth misalignment. You can speed up your treatment by wearing your clear aligners as often as possible.

2. Will you require rubber bands?

If you have an overbite or an underbite, your dentist may prescribe rubber bands. These rubber bands will be used to secure your top teeth to your bottom teeth, creating more tension that will help to pull your teeth into alignment. Placing the rubber bands is up to you. You'll have to take them off to eat and replace them when you're finished. Some people find rubber bands uncomfortable, but they are a necessary part of some Invisalign treatments.

3. What is the best way to clean your clear aligners?

Your clear aligners can collect plaque just like your teeth do. In order to keep them in good condition, you will have to clean them regularly. Your orthodontist can tell you the best way to do that. In general, it's best to use a soft toothbrush to gently loosen plaque and food particles. Take care not to scratch the plastic. If you like, you can use an effervescent denture cleaner to provide a deeper clean.

4. What should you do if your clear aligners are lost or damaged?

Despite your best intentions, you may accidentally lose or break your clear aligners. If this happens, it's best if you know what to do. Ask your dentist ahead of time what they recommend. They may tell you to wear the most recent Invisalign retainer that you still have, or they may tell you to schedule an emergency appointment to retrieve a replacement.