There are a lot of social benefits to Invisalign aligners over braces, but as with any orthodontic treatment, there are some adjustments you’ll have to make in social settings.
Braces can be a pain in social situations in a lot of ways. For one thing, it’s really easy to get food stuck in them, and there are lots of limitation on what you can eat as well. This can be inconvenient when you’re out with friends, or on a date!
Many people also feel self-conscious about how their smiles look when they have braces. They feel like it’s the first thing people notice when they smile, and that can be hard to get used to.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with a smile that has braces on it; they can be quite attractive! But many people just do not want to deal with it, and that’s fair, too.
Invisalign is a great alternative to braces for these people. The aligners are clear, and very difficult to see when worn. And since they can be removed, none of the hassle of eating that comes with braces applies!
However, people often stop at the fact that the aligners are removable and think, “great! That’s all I need to know!”, not thinking of the social considerations that come with having to remove their aligners.
First of all, it can be a bit awkward to just pop them out in front of everyone, especially if they haven’t noticed that you’re wearing them. And we’re going to be straight with you – there’s an element of saliva management to take into consideration, too!
In addition, you have to clean your aligners, and brush and floss your teeth, before you put them back in. This is necessary in order to prevent food from getting trapped between the aligners and your teeth, as allowing it to do so will result in bad breath and tooth decay.
These issues are relatively insignificant, and you’ll grow accustomed to them in no time. All the same, it helps to be prepared!