Any product or service that requires your participation can benefit from a bit of understanding. Clear aligners are far more convenient, partially because you can take them out and put them back in at will. This does create a degree of responsibility, and using them incorrectly will result in not reaching treatment goals, or doing so much slower. So it is important that you understand a little bit about how clear aligners work and their context in orthodontistry, so that you can get your money's worth from Invisalign London treatments. 

Clear aligners are a type of dental form - they do not truly fit teeth but when they are worn snuggly, they push them into new positions using the tension created in the aligner. As they are placed over the teeth to move the teeth, they will initially feel tight and will become loose as the teeth move into position. This is a reminder that you need to switch over to the next aligner in the series. This method of using the elastic tension in the plastic is an elegant and low-impact way of carrying out orthodontic care, compared to the relatively bulky brackets and archwires of a traditional brace, But it is only effective over short distances, requiring the aligners to work as a team, like runners passing on the baton in a relay race. 

Integrating your aligner treatment into your everyday routines is a very important step. It stops you from forgetting to fully engage in the treatment but it allows you to stay on top of maintenance. You should not eat or drink anything except from cool water whilst wearing your aligners; liquids can easily become trapped underneath them. As the actual flow of saliva is being obstructed by the presence of the aligner, sweet or acidic beverages will be held for an extended quantity of time directly against your enamel, significantly increasing the cavity risk and rate of acid erosion. Hot beverages can soften and allow the aligner to warp, altering its shape, which is a critical factor in its function. During clear aligner treatment, toothbrushing only has to improve in quality, also in quantity. So it is recommended that you brush your teeth after every meal before returning the aligner. This includes eating out or at work a travel size toothpaste, floss and toothbrush can be really helpful. 

As you are removing your aligners regularly to eat, it can be tempting to take them out now and then for things like public speaking or a meeting. But it is very easy for these occasional breaks to extend over time and aligners are only effective whilst you're wearing them. In addition to this, time spent not in an aligner gives an opportunity for your teeth to regress back into their original positions; this can result in taking your treatment out of sequence at best, delaying it at worst and having to carry out a complete restart from the first aligner. Don't forget to look in the mirror regularly. One of the wonderful things about aligners is that you can see the progress of your teeth as they move. There is nothing quite as motivational as seeing your goals slowly form in front of you.