At Englehardt & Nelson Family Dentistry, Dr. Engelhardt, Dr. Beseda, and Dr. Nelson are pleased to have helped families of all ages take care of their smiles in Fort Collins, Colorado. We are especially pleased to offer the Invisalign® system for straightening smiles.
Invisalign is a discreet smile straightening system which works using clear aligners instead traditional braces with their wires and brackets. Invisalign uses clear plastic aligner trays which are worn for 20-22 hours each day to shift teeth into their desired position. Today we would like to address some common questions about wearing these aligners.
How does cleaning my teeth work while wearing Invisalign aligners?
This process couldn’t be easier! As there are no brackets and wires for you to clean, you just remove the aligners to clean your teeth as usual. This means brushing and flossing daily to keep your smile free from tooth decay and gum disease.
How does cleaning the aligners work?
Simply remove the aligner trays and brush and rinse them in warm water (not hot). You can also easily clean them with the Invisalign cleaning kit.
How does eating affect my aligners?
Good news, it doesn’t! Because you remove the aligners when you eat, you can still eat your favorite foods and not worry about food particles getting stuck in between brackets and wires like traditional braces.
How does wearing aligners affect sports activities?
One of the nice things about Invisalign is that they won’t cut your mouth during contact sports. And if you normally wear a sports guard during your activities, you still can! Just remove the aligners and put in the guard until you are finished. Be sure to put the aligners back in as soon as possible afterward, as you are aiming for 20-22 hours a day wearing them.
How does Invisalign impact my bedtime routine?
Simple, just brush and floss your teeth as usual and clean your aligners.
If you reside in the Fort Collins, Colorado area, and are seeking a smile straightening system, please check out our dental practice at your earliest convenience by calling 970-484-4890 today. Our dentists, Dr. Engelhardt, Dr. Ralston, and Dr. Nelson are excited to help you restore your beautiful smile with the help of Invisalign!