Most of the time, you’d likely be thrilled to be doing Invisalign. It’s pretty exciting to know you’ll soon have beautifully straight teeth. That said, you might feel nervous if your treatment overlaps with a Valentine’s Day date. You really needn’t worry much, though; your Costa Mesa dentist will gladly help you manage the situation. Just keep reading to learn four things you should know when dating with Invisalign on Valentine’s Day.
Invisalign Can Cause Speech Troubles
Note that talking on your date might get tricky. Sometimes, Invisalign can cause patients to have short-lived speech troubles.
It comes down to how clear aligners fit in your mouth. Since their plastic adds thickness to your teeth, using your tongue as usual (i.e., without adjusting for the trays) may cause poor enunciation. The most common example of the latter would be a slight lisp or slushing sound. All that said, practice talking with your trays before your date; you’ll then have smoother speech on the 14th.
Clear Aligners (Still) Need Cleaning
Invisalign is typically near-invisible, but don’t just assume your trays will be (or stay) clear on your date. Aligners need regular cleaning to look good.
Remember that Invisalign trays spend most of their time in your mouth. As such, they can easily get stained with food debris and bacteria clinging to your teeth. For your aligners to remain transparent, you’ll need to clean them with a toothbrush anytime you take them out. (As an added perk, brushing your trays also reduces your risk of bad breath from smelly microbes.)
Meals Require Tray Removal
As much fun as your date might be, you mustn’t forget to remove your trays before eating. Clear aligners shouldn’t be worn during meals.
Invisalign simply can’t handle foods and beverages besides water. If you wear your trays while chewing or drinking, you might stain them with dark-colored debris that ruins their looks. The force of your bite could also damage your aligners’ thin plastic material, requiring you to get replacements. To avoid such outcomes, you should remove your trays discreetly before your meal arrives.
Treatment Results are Worth It
You might feel awkward wearing trays on your date, but please bear with it. Your treatment’s final results will be worth the effort.
In the first place, you started Invisalign because it’ll give you a straight smile. The procedure’s trays use micro-movements to shift each tooth to the proper position. Once that process is finished, you’ll have a much prettier grin that boosts your confidence, grants better first impressions, and so on.
Dating with Invisalign involves some hurdles, but don’t be daunted. Knowing the points above will help your romantic Valentine’s Day go smoothly!
About the Practice
Advanced Dental Care is based in Costa Mesa, CA. Led by Dr. Jeremy Jorgenson, our practice strives to make dentistry easy, effective, and comfortable for every patient. We thus tailor our treatments to your smile’s needs, all in a warm and cozy office that leaves you relaxed. Whether you’re getting preventive, cosmetic, or restorative work, rest assured – you’ll get a quality experience! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (714)-424-9099.