No Dental Insurance?Click Here Request Request an Appointment Forms Complete Our Forms Find Us Like Us on Facebook Reviews Leave a Google Review Referral Doctor Referral Call Map
No Dental Insurance?Click Here
Click Here to Read About Our Commitment to Safety

Back-to-School Tips for Teens with Invisalign

August 4, 2022

Filed under: Uncategorized — purpleplumdentistry @ 11:08 pm
Teen smiling.

With summer winding down and a new school year right around the corner, you’ve probably got a lot going on—including getting your teen situated for their return to the classroom. And if they’ve recently begun Invisalign in Falls Church, you might be wondering if there’s anything you can do for their benefit. There is! Here are four helpful tips from your dentist to ensure that your teen is able to benefit from Invisalign treatment as they begin a new semester.

Tip #1: Encourage Good Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is very important throughout your teen’s Invisalign journey, as bacteria and food debris can quite easily stain the trays and also become trapped underneath them, increasing their likelihood of cavities. It is crucial that your teen brushes their teeth after every meal—including their lunch at school! Make sure that they have access to a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss by providing them with a small, portable dental kit that easily fits in their backpack.

Tip #2: Protect Their Aligners

As awesome as Invisalign is, the aligners are small, clear, and quite easy to misplace or damage. You should ensure that your teen’s aligners don’t become lost or damaged in any way, as this will inevitably prolong their treatment process! Make sure that they bring their Invisalign storage case to school so that they can properly store and protect their trays whenever they need to remove them.

Tip #3: Provide Invisalign-Friendly Lunches

Keeping your teen nourished and well-fed throughout the school day is vital, but Invisalign can sometimes make this challenging. Even though the aligners don’t come with any dietary restrictions, they must be taken out whenever it’s time to eat. This gives your teen a limited window for eating—and on top of this, they might have a sore mouth if they’ve recently advanced to a new set of trays! You might consider packing softer foods for your teen on these days that are easy to prepare and quick to eat.

Tip #4: Help Them Follow the 22-Hour Rule

This is the golden rule of Invisalign—the aligners must be worn for 20 – 22 hours every day in order for them to ultimately do their job! There might be a myriad of reasons for your teen not wanting to wear their aligners while they’re in class, but you should encourage them to do so. They can use technology to assist them with their time; apps like Trayminder or even setting a timer during lunch can help ensure that the 22-hour rule is met.

The start of a new school year be a stressful and busy time, especially if your teen is trying to adjust to their Invisalign treatment. That said, following these four tips can help ensure that their teeth are one less thing you have to worry about.

About the Author

Dr. Anita Kianimanesh received her dental doctorate from the Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine and is a proud member of several professional organizations including the Spear Education Club and the prestigious Academy of General Dentistry. Her practice is pleased to offer a wide range of services including Invisalign! If you have any questions about Invisalign or would like to schedule a visit, you can contract Dr. Kianimanesh online or by phone: (703) 998-4244.

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.