What To Do If You Haven't Been Wearing Your Invisalign Retainers

Invisalign is a great alternative to braces for anyone who wants a more discreet option. In order to get the best experience from your clear aligners, you need to wear them as often as possible. Ideally, you should only remove them to eat and to clean them. However, life can sometimes get in the way. If you haven't been wearing your clear aligners, here are four steps you can take to correct this:

1. Start wearing your clear aligners immediately.

If you haven't been wearing your clear aligners as often as you should, you can start to correct the problem by putting them on at once. Putting it off will only make the problem worse. Even if your track record of wearing them hasn't been perfect, every minute helps. Wear your aligners as often as you can until you see your orthodontist again.

2. Take painkillers if necessary.

You may find that your Invisalign retainers are uncomfortably tight if you haven't worn them for a while. Your teeth can begin to shift back into their original positions if you don't wear your clear aligners, which causes that tight feeling. If you experience pain, you can use over-the-counter pain medication to soothe the ache. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for as long as the discomfort persists.

3. Wear an older pair of clear aligners.

If you've gone too long without wearing your Invisalign retainers, you may be unable to get them onto your teeth at all. If this happens to you, don't panic. Put on an older pair of clear aligners, ideally the most recent one that still fits. Wear these aligners until you're able to get an appointment with your orthodontist. Your old aligners won't advance your orthodontic progress, but they will keep your teeth from regressing any further. Your orthodontist will assess the condition of your teeth the next time you see them, and they can adjust your treatment plan to get you back on track.

4. Be extra careful when handling your aligners.

Since clear aligners can be snugger when you haven't been wearing them, you'll have to be extra careful when putting them on and taking them off. Rough handling can cause your clear aligners to crack or snap. Use both hands to gently wiggle your clear aligners off your teeth when it's time to remove them. Apply even pressure to ease them from your teeth. If your clear aligners do develop a crack, you may keep using them as long as they don't break completely.

If you have any problems or questions, get started on finding help by visiting a site like http://www.barnstabledental.com.