Clear Aligners for Teens: What Parents Need to Know Before Starting Treatment
Before your teen starts any orthodontic treatment, it’s essential that everyone is on the same page. Your teen might have a limited view of the treatment based on what their friends are doing. And you might have a similarly limited view based on what you have researched.
Getting together with your dentist to better understand the treatment plan and how it will impact both of your lives will help to ensure that nothing is missed or misunderstood.
The consultation stage of the treatment is really important, so make sure you both arrive armed with questions. Only when everyone is on the same page can we begin the treatment with confidence that everyone will be able to meet their expectations.
What parents should know before treatment begins
Before your teen embarks on this interesting new journey, you should be aware of the following aspects of their Invisalign treatment. This information can help you to be as supportive as possible when your teen is navigating the most complex parts of the treatment.
Your teen needs to wear their aligners for 20-22 hours per day. This should leave plenty of time for them to eat and clean their teeth, but they might need gentle reminders to replace their aligners, particularly if they are occupied with their social life or school work.
Aligners have wear indicators that will let the dentist know if your teen has been wearing each aligner enough. You can remind your child of this and let them know why it’s important to wear their aligners for long enough each day.
Your teen doesn’t have to change their diet, but it might change some of their habits, such as snacking between meals. Teens generally cut this out when they start treatment as they find it’s too much hassle to remove and clean their aligners, just for a snack.
They will need to be careful about drinking anything other than water while wearing their aligners. This includes fizzy drinks, even clear ones. Hot drinks are also problematic, as they can warp the aligners. Grab your teen a water bottle they can carry with them so they can stay hydrated on-the-go and aren’t relying on buying bottled water while they’re out and about.
Teens can wear their aligners when they play sports, but if they are playing contact sports, they should wear a custom mouth guard that fits over their aligners.
While they won’t need to visit the dentist as often as they would with fixed aligners, they will need to attend checkups. Speak to your dentist if you’re worried about the impact this might have on their school schedule, particularly if they are in an exam year.
How can parents support teens with their treatment?
There are a few simple ways you can support your teen throughout their treatment. Knowing that they have your help and support will ensure they stay on track with the treatment.
Establish good routines with your teen so they can get help with things like cleaning their retainers after meals and before bed.
Set reminders throughout the day to check that they are wearing their aligners. You could use smart speakers around the house to do this without being intrusive or annoying.
Offer encouragement when they are doing well, rather than only focusing on when they get something wrong.
Remember that changing aligners can be uncomfortable, so anticipate some grumpiness and resistance during this time.
Carry an Invisalign emergency case with you so that you have everything they need if they are caught short. This could include mini toothpaste and a toothbrush, mouthwash, squashies and a spare aligner case.
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