Believe it or not, of the 4 million people who wear braces in the United States, a quarter of them are adults (per Humana). This may come as a surprise to you since people mainly consider braces to be for kids only. However, if you find yourself needing Invisalign braces one day, here are some tips to get the best results from them.

Keep the Braces Clean

While Invisalign braces will provide an almost invisible experience, it's important to clean them regularly. In fact, it would be best if you maintained a strict cleaning regime. Failure to do so can result in your braces becoming stained. Once the braces are stained, they will no longer be invisible, and people will start noticing when you have them on. To clean your braces, you need to use non-abrasive toothpaste, a preferable one that's not colored. This will keep your trays clear and clean. Cleaning must be done at least once a day.

Wear Them for a Full 22 Hours

The aligners can only work if you wear them long enough for your teeth to straighten out. If you don't, you'll end up extending the time it takes for you to get the results you need. However, it's important to remember that braces must be taken out whenever you eat or drink anything that's not water.

Stick to the Dentist's Instructions

One of the most critical aspects of the Invisalign process is to stick to your dentist's instructions. For instance, you need to follow the schedule of when to replace the aligners with new ones. This will allow the aligners to work as they should and ensure that you get the best results as soon as possible. It's important to note that Invisalign braces have a particular order that must be followed to ensure that your teeth are adjusting in the right direction.

Keep an Extra Set of Aligners

Unfortunately, your teeth will start shifting back to their crooked positions if you stop wearing your aligners before the treatment is complete. This can happen if you lose your current set or they get damaged. That's why you should keep an extra set of aligners. This is a good idea because getting replacement aligners is not an instant process. You will need to wait for about a week for them to be available for collection, and that's a long time to be without your aligners.

Following these tips will ensure that you get the best out of your Invisalign braces. It's very important that you take good care of the braces and that you follow the dentist's instructions if you want your aligners to work as they should.