What can’t I eat with aligners?
Nothing is off-limits. Just be conscious of the need to take out aligners to eat, and to clean your teeth before putting your aligners back in.
What can I eat with aligners?
A healthy diet supports the body as it undergoes the biological changes that occur during orthodontic treatment. You are encouraged to enjoy a variety of healthful foods during orthodontic treatment. Just be sure to take your aligners out before you eat, and before you put them back in, clean your teeth thoroughly.
Can I eat after getting aligners?
Yes. At first, you may want to consider foods that require little or no chewing such as soup, pudding, mashed potatoes, applesauce, ice cream, etc.
How long do I wear aligners?
Aligners need to be worn at least 22 hours a day. Take them out to eat or to drink anything except for tap water. Then clean your teeth before putting your aligners back in. They can only move teeth when they are in your mouth.
How many aligners will I get?
Your orthodontist will probably give you a few sets of aligners, and instruct you to wear a set for one to two weeks before changing to the next set. You will get additional sets of aligners when you see your orthodontist at your routine appointment.
Will you use needles?
No.
Will getting aligners cause discomfort?
No. Getting aligners will not cause discomfort.
Are tooth-colored bumps on teeth necessary?
It depends on your treatment plan. Talk to your orthodontist about whether you will need these attachments to move your teeth.
How are aligners applied?
A retractor will be placed in the mouth to keep the mouth open comfortably. This will also help to keep the mouth as dry as possible. Next, so that attachments bond to the tooth enamel, the tooth surface will be etched with a mild solution. After a few seconds, the tooth will be rinsed. Then, a special adhesive will go in the aligner trays and they will be placed on the teeth and cured with a special light. After all of the attachments have been placed and the adhesive has been cured, any excess adhesive will be removed. Your first aligners will snap into place. Your orthodontist will demonstrate how to put your aligners in and take them out. When you first put a set in, they won’t be an exact fit. They’ll be off by just a fraction of a millimeter. But that’s the idea – so that your teeth move to fit the aligner. They’ll be a little tight at first, and then start to loosen up.
What happens the day I get aligners – do I need to do anything special to prepare?
The day you get aligners, eat as usual. Just brush and floss thoroughly after eating.