If you want straighter teeth, then you have probably heard of Invisalign, a system of clear aligners that can be used in place of metal braces. Many patients benefit from Invisalign and enjoy straighter smiles, but there are others who steer away from this tooth-straightening solution because they have some concerns. You will find the most common of those concerns addressed below.

Concern: The aligners will turn yellow.

Maybe you have seen someone wearing yellowed, obvious aligners, or perhaps you just assume the material will stain. And you're not silly to be concerned about this; Invisalign trays can turn yellow. However, they will only turn yellow if you eat and drink with them in place, or if you never clean them as they should. If you always remove your aligners when you eat and drink, and if you clean them nightly, then they will stay clear and basically invisible for the entire two weeks that you wear them. (You switch to new aligners approximately every two weeks.)

Concern: You'll misplace your aligners.

If you're a forgetful person and are worried you may leave your aligners somewhere, then there are a few strategies you can employ to prevent this. First, buy a case, and always put your aligners inside of it when you take them out. Make sure the case is big, colorful, and obvious. Second, set an alarm to go off a few minutes after every mealtime. If you left your aligners somewhere, this alarm will remind you to find the aligners and put them back in. 

Concern: The aligners will hurt.

If you've had friends with braces and heard them complain about pain, then you may figure wearing aligners will be similar. But actually, wearing Invisalign is a lot more comfortable than wearing braces. The aligners are far less likely to rub and cause sores on your cheeks and tongue. You will probably have some soreness for the first day or two after you switch to a new aligner, but this is more of an aching kind of soreness and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Overall, the discomfort associated with Invisalign is pretty minor and is not a reason to avoid straightening your teeth.

Hopefully, this article has addressed some of your concerns about Invisalign. If you are still wondering whether this Invisalign is really right for you, then reach out to your dentist and ask a few questions.