Invisalign Teen is an excellent option that will help image-conscious teenagers feel more confident about their treatment. Not only are the aligners virtually invisible when worn, but they are also removable for maximum convenience and easy care. Removable aligners offer teenagers a great deal of freedom and flexibility, but they also come with a lot of responsibility. To ensure your teen stays on track for their treatment timeline, here are four easy back-to-school tips.
1.) Explain How to Use the Aligner Removal Tool
It’s not uncommon for teenagers to have some difficulty removing their trays at first. To help make this process easier when they need to remove their aligners for lunch or sports, consider an OrthoKey. This tool is designed to make the removal of clear aligners easier, and its small enough to be stored in your teen’s aligner case. Not only will an OrthoKey make taking their aligners out easier, but it will discourage them from using their fingers, which will likely contain many germs and harmful particles.
2.) Ensure Proper Oral Hygiene
Before your teenager leaves the house for the day, they need to ensure they’re equipped with the right tools. They should always carry a travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Since lingering particles from food can scratch and stain clear aligners, patients should expect to brush their teeth after every meal and snack. Make sure your teenager is packing these essential items with them as they go to school to help keep their smiles cavity-free.
3.) Help Teens With Their Speech
Your teenager may develop a slight lisp when first beginning to wear Invisalign in Franklin Park. This is a normal side-effect that will go away on its own as the mouth becomes accustomed to the new aligners. If your teen feels self-conscious about their change in speech, they will be less likely to participate in class or enjoy themselves with friends. You can help them overcome their lisp by taking the time outside of school to practice words, syllables, and phrases with them. The repetition will help speed up the adjustment process and make speaking with aligners easier.
4.) Make sure They Have Access to Pain Relief
By design, smooth Invisalign aligners will cause less discomfort than traditional metal braces with sharp wires and brackets. However, Invisalign will still cause minor discomfort as the teeth are shifted into position. Your teen is likely to experience the most soreness in their mouth in the first several days of starting a new set of aligners. While soft foods and ice packs can help to some degree, they should be able to receive over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate particularly bad symptoms.
Wearing Invisalign as a teenager is quite the luxury that many patients have not experienced. If you can help your teen wear their aligners for 20-22 hours a day with the above tips, they can expect a beautifully straightened smile once their treatment is complete.
About the Practice
At Grand Dental – Franklin Park, we are proud to showcase the talents of our in-house orthodontist Dr. Ken Sandler. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Sandler and the rest of our experienced team are please to help your teenager undergo any necessary orthodontic treatment they need without a referral to an outside specialist. Teens or parents of teens who are interested in Invisalign should visit our website or call (847) 455-8383 to learn more.