4 Back-to-School Tips for Your Teen with Clear Aligners

High school is a time for making new friends, finding new hobbies and interests, and building self-esteem. In the past, teens would only have one treatment option that could impede on all of these high school milestones (metal braces) but today, there’s a better alternative out there—Invisalign Teen. If your teen has clear aligners, the change in schedule and new school obligations could throw them off of their treatment plan if they’re not prepared. Read on to learn four back-to-school tips to help teens stay on track with their treatment from their orthodontist in Cumming.

Packing a Travel-Sized Oral Hygiene Kit

There’s nothing that would derail an orthodontic treatment like a surprise cavity or tooth infection. Fortunately, those can be avoided with a thorough oral hygiene routine! Because your teen will be at school during lunch, it’ll be important for them to have access to a toothbrush, dental floss, and toothpaste, as well as a protective case for them to put their trays in when they’re eating.

By packing a kit that includes all of these goodies and putting it in their backpack, they can prevent the buildup of food debris and plaque from being trapped behind their aligners by cleaning their teeth and tongue after they eat.

Staying Hydrated with Water

School is a time for socializing, which means the last thing your teen will want to be dealing with is dry mouth and bad breath. Encourage them to sip on water throughout the day to help them generate more saliva to wash away bacteria that can lead to bad breath. Earn eco-friendly points by getting them a reusable water bottle!

Meeting the Recommended Aligner Wear Time

It’s recommended that people undergoing Invisalign treatment wear their aligners for between 20 and 22 hours every day in order for them to be effective. Be sure to remind your teen to put their aligners back in after lunch. If you’re not able to send them a text, set a silent calendar reminder on their phone for the end of lunch time to make sure they put them back in and don’t fall behind on their orthodontic treatment!

Tackling Any Discomfort

Occasionally, when people graduate to a new set of Invisalign aligners in their treatment, they may experience some slight soreness and discomfort. Typically, this can be remedied with an Ibuprofen or by switching to new trays when they get home from school, so they can do most of the adjustment time in the comfort of home and not at school.

By supporting your teen throughout their Invisalign treatment, they’ll be able to learn a little bit about responsibility as they work their way, not just through high school, but also to an aligned smile!

About the Practice

At Serenity Orthodontics, we’re proud to have a phenomenal team of three board-certified orthodontists with collective decades of experience under their belts. They’re passionate about providing patients of all ages with customized orthodontic treatment plans that meet their unique dental needs and use the latest technology to do so. In addition to offering traditional metal braces, they provide 3D printed ceramic braces, clear aligners, and other versatile options. To learn more about orthodontic treatments, visit our website or call 678-879-3006.