The Invisalign system is becoming a more popular alternative to wearing braces and those who wear the invisible trays over their teeth for any duration of time are always looking for ways to help them fit in with their active lifestyle.

HERE ARE FIVE USEFUL HACKS THAT CAN HELP MAKE YOUR TREATMENT GO BY MORE SMOOTHLY:

1. BRING A TOOTHBRUSH EVERYWHERE

The first thing to remember is that you’re going to want to brush your teeth after every meal. That’s because food particles that are caught in the teeth and gums can breed bacteria underneath the trays. You really don’t want to put the trays back on without at least rinsing or chewing a piece of sugar-free gum.

But if you bring along a travel toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste, you need not worry about rinsing or chewing gum and you’ll be eliminating any chances of bacteria growth. That can lead to bad breath, cavities, and gum disease.

2. CHANGING YOUR TRAYS AT NIGHT

As your treatments progress, subsequent trays will feel tighter and might cause you renewed discomfort as you get used to the next set your dentist gives you. While not all patients will feel that discomfort at first, those who are more likely to experience some sort of pain as they move to the next level of treatment should make the switch at bedtime.

If you’re concerned that you won’t be able to sleep from the discomfort, take an over the counter pain medication to help manage it. When you wake up, you should be properly acclimated to the new trays.

3. ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES

You may find the edges of your Invisalign trays slightly rough and abrasive. No problem. Just get a nail buffer and gently smooth down those areas where you’re getting irritated around the gums and cheeks.

Any type of nail buffer will work, you just want to be careful about how much you sand down, otherwise you could damage the tray.

4. BUY THE TOOL

Your Invisalign trays are designed to lock tightly to your teeth. This can make it difficult to remove the tray when necessary. So it makes sense to buy the removal tool that is available to help you extract the trays from your mouth.

5. REMOVE THE TRAYS IN PRIVATE

If you’re planning to sit down for a meal, especially if you’re with other people, you might not want to take the trays out in front of everyone. They will probably accumulate some degree of saliva and pulling them from your mouth may not be a pretty sight. So excuse yourself to a bathroom or find a private corner and take them out.