Opening a brand-new box of Invisalign aligner trays means you’ve successfully graduated from your previous set and are moving one step closer to your final results.
However, the first few hours with a fresh tray can feel a bit odd. In addition to a tight fit, they can taste sterile and just feel strange. Mastering a quick tray-prep routine can help you start each new phase of treatment with greater comfort.
Implement a Preventive Cold-Soak Wash
When you pop a fresh aligner straight out of its sealed plastic pouch, it can occasionally taste slightly clinical or dry out your tongue. Before you snap a new set onto your teeth, give them a quick bath. Soak the fresh trays in a cup of cool tap water mixed with a small splash of alcohol-free, clear antibacterial mouthwash for about five minutes. The soak neutralizes manufacturing residue and pre-hydrates the trays so they slide smoothly over your teeth.
Put Them in Before Bed
If you switch out your Invisalign trays first thing in the morning, you are forcing your facial muscles, jaw joints, and roots to adapt to a completely new structural alignment map all day long. Instead, change your trays right before you go to sleep at night. Snapping a fresh set right before bed allows your body to process the initial, highest eight hours of shifting pressure while you sleep. This way, you wake up in the morning past the peak adjustment phase. If you experience ongoing jaw discomfort during treatment, discuss it with your dentist, as TMJ evaluations may help identify underlying concerns.
Re-Establish Moisture
Because a fresh set of smooth plastic aligners acts as a physical barrier between your teeth and your tongue, your brain’s immediate reflex might be to temporarily produce less saliva. It can sometimes cause an uncomfortable, dry mouth feeling. Increase your water intake during the first 24 hours of a new tray cycle to eliminate friction sores, and continue practicing good oral hygiene with routine preventive dentistry visits throughout your treatment.
Comfortable, Efficient Invisalign Treatment in Indianapolis, Carmel, and Danville
Achieving your dream smile should fit seamlessly into your everyday life without unnecessary discomfort. At Cornerstone Family Dentistry, we help make the process of shifting to new trays a breeze. Count on us to provide detailed advice throughout treatment and to help keep your progress on track with a trusted dentist in Indianapolis that patients rely on.
Contact us to get started today by visiting our clear aligner dentist in Indianapolis, Carmel, or Danville.
