I have a friend who has been using Invisalign to straighten her teeth. She seems very happy with them so I am considering getting them myself. I do have one concern I want to address before deciding though. Because you wear the aligners all the time, will they put me at risk for stained teeth? I'm guessing they trap moisture and other things in there. I want to keep my teeth as white as possible and am even considering having them professionally whitened.
Maddie
Dear Maddie,
Invisalign has a very high patient satisfaction rate so I am not surprised that your friend is pleased with her procedure and progress. As far as staining, the Invisalign system has a much better track record on that score than traditional metal braces. Because of all the wires and brackets used in braces, things would get trapped in and around them. Plus, they make it much harder to keep your teeth clean. In fact, many patients ended up with decalcification stains by the end of their time wearing them. With Invisalign, you can remove them to eat and to clean your teeth. That means your teeth will stay as stain free as you are diligent about your oral hygiene.
What you don't want to do is drink a lot of stain producing beverages, such as coffee or tea, while you are wearing them. Save those type of drinks for mealtimes when you will have your aligners off anyway.
You mentioned wanting to whiten your teeth. There is a great side benefit to the Invisalign aligners which allows you to whiten your teeth simultaneously. This is because the aligners used to straighten your teeth can also double as teeth whitening trays. You simply ask your dentist for some professional strength whitening gel and wear it in your aligners at the times which are most convenient for you.
Disclaimer: This article is general information from Dr. Harveer Kaur and is not a substitute for a dental exam, diagnosis, or treatment. Every mouth is different. If you have a concern about your teeth or gums, call our Ahwatukee office at (480) 283-0733 or our Chandler office at (480) 895-3252 and we will help you sort it out.
Dr. Harveer Kaur, DDS, BDS
Dr. Kaur is the founder of Kokopelli Dentistry, serving patients in Ahwatukee and Chandler, Arizona. She focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry.
Meet Dr. Kaur →Request an appointment
We'll call you to confirm a time.