Invisalign aligners are easily removable. Unlike the conventional aligners that remain fixed on the teeth throughout the duration of your orthodontic treatment you are meant to take these clear plastic aligners off the teeth every day for a limited span of time.
Thus Invisalign allows maintaining optimum oral hygiene. Now imagine a situation – you take off your Invisalign trays to notice stained or discoloured teeth. How disappointing now could that be! Orthodontists handling patients over the years at the renowned Chatfield Dental Braces point out that in orthodontic treatments just anything could go wrong. There is nothing much to worry about. Luckily there exist effective ways to prevent those potential issues.
For example if your teeth are crooked or misaligned your dentist may recommend Invisalign. Now you may have already heard something like Invisalign makes the teeth yellow. If that opinion bothers you then this blog post is meant for you. In the following sections we will find the answer to the issue.
First let us try understanding what exactly Invisalign is in layman’s words.
Invisalign – what is it?
Invisalign can be termed a cosmetic procedure. It is meant to improve the appearance of the teeth as well as the jaw line. Invisalign aligners shift the crooked or misaligned teeth gradually into the right position. In contrast to conventional braces this cutting-edge teeth-straightening technology uses a series of aligner trays made of clear or transparent plastic.
In other words this procedure does not involve any metal wires or brackets. Moreover the aligner trays remain invisible inside the mouth. Your crooked teeth get corrected discreetly.
Throughout the period of your treatment you have to be on a series of aligner trays. These aligners are highly customised to fit perfectly only on your teeth.
You wear each set of aligners approximately for two weeks. Then you move on to the next set of aligners in your given series. Gradually you move on to the last set of aligners. Then your treatment gets over.
However once the treatment completes you are likely to be on retainers. Retainers prevent the teeth from sinking back into their initial positions.
Does Invisalign really turn the teeth yellow?
When you are on Invisalign braces your teeth will not turn yellow. However there is a crux. Invisalign requires you put on your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. In other words you get 2 to 4 hours a day to have the aligners off. You are not supposed to eat or drink anything with your braces on.
However it is okay to drink only plain water wearing the braces. During those few hours when you can afford to leave your braces behind you are supposed to brush and floss the teeth, eat, drink and clean your aligner trays. If you fail taking sound dental care and hygiene while you are Invisalign journey a lot of things may go wrong.
For example as an Invisalign patient you are expected to brush the teeth every time after eating or drinking something. If you wear the aligners back without brushing the teeth food particles are likely to get trapped between the teeth and the aligners. This easily leads to building up of plaques and harmful bacteria.
In course of time these bacteria and plaque may pave the way to staining or discoloration of the teeth. Even tooth decay and gum disease are likely to occur in the given situation. On the other hand if you stick to a diet that includes staining foods and drinks then that raises the chances of teeth stains while you are on Invisalign treatment.
Thus in order to cut a long story short, whether the teeth will stain during Invisalign treatment depends on a number of factors. These include the diet you choose and the level of dental hygiene you maintain. Staining of the teeth for Invisalign patients does not depend only on the treatment itself. But if you stick to a strict oral hygiene routine the chances of the teeth picking up stains are much less likely.
How to prevent discoloration of the teeth during Invisalign days?
Now let us discuss few tips to avoid staining of the teeth during your Invisalign days.
Stay away from staining drinks and foods
Unlike fixed braces Invisalign does not put you under dietary restrictions whatsoever. But if you want to keep the issue of stained or discoloured teeth at bay you should better avoid certain foods and drinks. Each of these items is likely to stain the teeth. The list includes the following –
- Coffee
- Wine (red wine in particular stains the teeth more)
- Any coloured juice
- Cola drinks
- Tea and
- Coloured sauces
Moreover it is equally important to brush and floss the teeth properly every time after a meal or a snack. It is also important to rinse the aligner trays thoroughly after brushing the teeth every time. It is better to avoid smoking or any other kind of tobacco consumption during your Invisalign days. Consumption of tobacco also leads to staining of the teeth.
Regular and proper cleaning of the mouth
Maintaining sound oral hygiene is important preventing discolouration or staining of the teeth. It also helps promoting oral health. Simple steps that can help the teeth stay whiter and brighter include the following –
- Clean the aligner trays every day. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles for the purpose. Gently rinse the aligner with the brush after removing the appliance from the teeth.
- Thoroughly brush the teeth at least twice a day. If you want to secure the best treatment results then brush after every meal.
- Floss the teeth at least once a day. It removed food particles that get trapped between the teeth.
- Get your teeth professionally cleaned by your dentist at routine intervals.
- Rinse the mouth thoroughly with an antibacterial mouthwash for better results.
Importance of fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash
The Chatfield Dental Braces is one of the most assured places to get your invisalign braces in London. Dentists and orthodontists associated with the practice have years of experience in successfully handling patients.
These dentists recommend Invisalign patients to switch over to toothpastes and mouthwashes that are fluoride-based. This range of dental products contributes with preventing demineralisation and white spot formation on the enamel surface.