Invisible braces or clear aligners were approved by the FDA in 1998 and took the orthodontic market by storm. Until invisible braces came along, we relied on conventional metal braces. While metal braces are very effective, they have several downsides. They are very noticeable and often irritate the inside of your mouth.
They are also notoriously difficult to clean and often lead to plaque build-up and other dental problems. Additionally, with metal braces, there are several hard or chewy foods that you need to avoid as they can damage your braces. Invisible braces eliminate all of these issues and can give you a great smile in under six months. However, not all invisible braces are the same so it’s important to choose one that suits your lifestyle.
Every manufacturer of invisible braces will make it seem like their product is the best choice for you and this is why outside expert advice can help. These experts independently vet all the products that they recommend and provide you with the pros and cons of each one.
This allows you to compare the top invisible braces so that you can weigh your options and make an educated decision. They also take customer reviews into account when providing advice which saves you the time and effort of checking reviews independently.
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Many brands require you to wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours per day while a few of them give you the option to only wear them for 10 hours at night. The way that invisible braces work is that the manufacturer sends you a kit so that you can make your teeth impressions and send it to them.
After that, they will send you several sets of invisible braces or trays and you will have to move from one set to the next so that your teeth are gradually moved into the desired positions. The downside to this is that you will need to remove the trays every time that you eat anything. If you typically eat several small meals and snacks throughout the day, it can become troublesome to take them off and put them back each time.
Furthermore, you will not be able to eat your meals at a leisurely pace and savor your food since you can only have your trays out for 2 hours in total throughout your day. If you feel that this could be an issue for you, it would be better to stick with the nighttime-only invisible braces so that you don’t have to worry about changing your eating habits.
The guidelines provided by manufacturers of invisible braces state that you need to remove your trays before you drink anything apart from water. This is because if you leave your trays in while drinking certain beverages, it can stain the trays which will make your teeth look discolored. One study on several invisible braces found that coffee, tea, and wine caused significant staining.
Drinking sodas with your tray in will not cause discoloration but they can impact your dental health because the sugar and acidity in the drinks can result in cavities. If you are someone who only drinks water or unflavored sparkling water, this won’t be an issue for you but if you are used to drinking other beverages throughout the day, especially if you drink them at a slower pace, it can be a problem because you will have to take your trays out each time and you will need to drink your beverage at one go.
If you work in a setting that requires frequent public interactions or long work hours, you may need to account for the ease of cleaning your trays. According to this Avon Lake OH dentist, clear braces require regular cleaning to avoid staining and ensure that no food particles get trapped, which could lead to bad breath or other hygiene issues. The accessibility of bathrooms or private spaces where you can discreetly clean your trays during the day could play a big role in how comfortable and practical this treatment is for you.
There are other potentially embarrassing situations that can come up so you need to decide in advance whether you will be comfortable dealing with them and your plan to do so. For instance, if someone offers you a slice of their birthday cake, you can’t refuse without coming across as rude or uncaring but at the same time, you don’t want them to see you dig into your mouth to remove your trays.
One option is to take the cake and thank your co-workers and tell them that you can’t eat it at the moment because of your braces and that you will have it later. If you are uncomfortable or self-conscious in such situations, you might be better off with the 10-hour braces.
If you travel frequently or if you are going on a holiday, it can be inconvenient to brush your teeth after every meal and snack. Even if you are in a restaurant, you might not be comfortable brushing your teeth in a public restroom.
One option is to carry disposable pre-pasted toothbrushes with you while travelling so you can brush while on the go. If you think that this is going to severely impact your travel, then you should avoid 22-hour braces.
