Back-to-School Tips for Your Invisalign Teen

Is your teenager getting ready for their first day of school? While most parents are celebrating their child’s return to the classroom, you may feel anxious if you have an Invisalign teen. Because they’ll no longer be under your watchful eye, you might have questions about how you can make sure they stick to the program when they’re at school. In this blog post, we’ll share tips to help your little one stay on track with their treatment during the day!

Pack a Soft-Food Lunch

It can be difficult for your Invisalign teen to maintain a healthy diet while wearing the clear aligners. At the start of each new tray cycle, your child’s mouth and teeth may feel sore. If they complain about sensitive teeth, you should take that into consideration and pack them a lunch with soft foods that are easy to eat. Some great choices are soups, smoothies, yogurt, and oatmeal.

Use an OrthoKey

The difficulty of removing the clear aligners could prevent your Invisalign teen from eating at school. In many cases, removal is most difficult early in the tray cycle when the aligners fit the tightest. Luckily, an OrthoKey can help! It’s the best aligner removal tool on the market. Not only does it make removing trays a breeze, but it’ll keep your child’s germy fingers from going into their mouth.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

All children should be practicing good oral hygiene, especially if they’re undergoing Invisalign treatment. Your teen should be brushing and flossing after each meal, right before putting their trays back in their mouth. It’s crucial for removing debris that causes plaque and cavities. Make sure you pack them a toothbrush, travel-sized toothpaste, and dental floss to encourage them to keep their mouth clean.

Meet the Recommended Wear-Time

Invisalign teens must wear their clear aligners for at least 21 hours a day to ensure successful treatment. However, getting your child to wear the plastic trays for 90% of the day is not an easy task. Some common wear-time barriers include self-consciousness, bad breath, dry mouth, and discomfort. Helping your teen overcome those issues will make them more likely to meet the recommended wear time.

Keep the Clear Aligners Safe

While your teen will get one retainer case from their orthodontist, you should invest in a few more to ensure they always have a safe place to store their trays. There are several fun styles and designs to choose from! Buying a unique one will keep your teen from getting mixed up with another classmate’s retainer and mouthguard case.

Before the first day of school comes around, review these tips with your Invisalign teen. It’ll help them feel comfortable and confident during their journey to a straighter smile!

About the Practice

At Village Walk Dental, we offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art, personalized services to patients of all ages. Our team is passionate about helping everyone achieve and maintain optimal oral health. For more back-to-school tips for your Invisalign teen, visit our website or call (619) 482-7367.