It’s never too late to get the smile you’ve always wanted, whether you have a few crooked teeth or an overbite. Many of our patients love Invisalign® clear aligners because they’re discreet and allow them to continue eating their favorite foods during orthodontic treatment.
As the name suggests, Invisalign is a series of nearly invisible aligners that move your teeth little by little into their final positions.
Here’s what else you need to know about the pros and cons of Invisalign clear aligners.
PRO: INVISALIGN ALIGNERS ARE DISCREET
Don’t want metal brackets and wires on your teeth? Ask Dr. Siara-Olds if you’re a candidate for Invisalign. Invisalign aligners are made out of a clear plastic that fits snugly around your teeth. As such, no one will even realize that you’re wearing aligners unless they’re standing close.
Invisalign clear aligners are perfect for teens and adults who may feel self-conscious with metal braces. They’re also perfect for people with public-facing jobs who want to make the best impression possible on others.
PRO: YOU CAN CONTINUE EATING YOUR FAVORITE FOODS
Invisalign aligners are removable. This means that you’ll be able to continue eating your favorite foods during orthodontic treatment. But it’s important that you brush your teeth after eating or drinking anything other than water. Otherwise, you may stain your aligners over time.
Related: How to Take Care of Invisalign Aligners →
In comparison, patients with traditional metal braces have to avoid foods that are sticky and/or hard to chew. For example, a sticky piece of caramel can pull a bracket off of your tooth. Other foods to avoid are gum, caramel, hard candy, and apples. Invisalign patients, on the other hand, can enjoy an unrestricted diet.
PRO: IT’LL BE EASIER TO BRUSH AND FLOSS YOUR TEETH
Invisalign clear aligners are removable. As such, you can continue to brush and floss like you would normally. This is different from metal braces, which would require you to thread floss between each individual bracket.
Metal braces offer more nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide. As such, it’s important that you remain diligent with your oral hygiene routine. This means brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time and flossing once a day.
CON: YOU’LL NEED A LOT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE
In general, we don’t recommend Invisalign aligners for elementary school children. At this age, children don’t have the self-discipline needed to wear their aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day. But teens and adults tend to have more motivation to get a straighter, more attractive smile.
Aligners work by exerting constant but gentle pressure on your teeth. That’s why you’ll feel a little bit of pressure on your teeth when you start wearing a new set of aligners. This pressure is temporary and a sign that the aligners are working to move your teeth into their final positions.
For younger patients, this temporary discomfort may cause them to avoid wearing their aligners as directed by our orthodontist. For this reason, our younger patients tend to be better candidates for traditional metal braces.
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. SIARA-OLDS
Dr. Nicole Siara-Olds is a board-certified orthodontist in Milford, Michigan. She’s also accepting new patients and would be more than happy to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. To request an appointment, please call Siara-Olds Orthodontics at (248) 684-6833. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our office will reach out to you soon.
