Lifestyle Changes To Expect When You Get Clear Dental Aligners

If you are preparing for clear dental aligners, expect considerable changes in your lifestyle. These changes are necessary if you want your orthodontic treatment to succeed. You should keep the following practices in mind:

Prepare for Lipstick Issues

If you currently can't go out without putting on some lip gloss or lipstick, prepare to change this part of your life when you get the aligners. Colored lip gloss or lipstick can easily stick to your orthodontics and defeat one of the advantages of choosing the aligners (which are clear) in the first place. You may have to switch to clear lip balm and gloss, and apply them sparingly and carefully. Fortunately, this is a purely cosmetic issue and will have no effect on your treatment.

Get a Travel Toothbrush, and Prepare To Carry It Everywhere

Your meal times will become a little bit complicated once you get the dental aligners. You need to take the aligners out, eat, brush your teeth and clean the aligners each time you eat. As you can imagine, this can be hectic if you are not at home, for example, if you are traveling or at work.

Therefore, a traveler's toothbrush will become your constant companion. You will also need access to clean water (for your mouth and the aligners), mild liquid soap (for the aligners), and an extra soft toothbrush (also for the aligners). That is the ideal position for the perfectionists, but others can make do with sugarless gum or warm water for removing food particles from teeth after eating.

Prepare To Wear Them Everywhere

Clear aligners aren't that ugly, but some people still fear to have them on all the time. Unfortunately, you need to wear your aligners between 20 to 22 hours each day (the more hours, the better); anything less than that reduces the effectiveness of your treatment. Take out the time you need to eat (since you won't be wearing your aligners during mealtimes) and you are left with very little time to take your aligners out for fun. Therefore, whether you are going for to A-list party or for a night out with your friends, expect to have your aligners on.

Expect these changes in your lifestyle to last about a year. For changes that affect your treatment, such as the need to wear your aligners all the time, you have no option but to follow the rules. Cutting corners once or twice might not affect you, but too many times may not be good for your treatment. A cosmetic dentist, like one at  Stone & Johnson Dental Group, cam provide more information and answers.