Back-to-School Tips for Teens with Invisalign

With the start of the new school year, your teenager is embarking on a journey filled with new experiences, including their Invisalign treatment. Balancing the benefits of Invisalign with school responsibilities can be a rewarding challenge. Continue reading to learn four essential tips that will help your teen navigate their school year confidently while also making the most of their Invisalign treatment.

Tip #1: Encourage Good Oral Hygiene

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is crucial during your teenager’s Invisalign treatment. Food particles and bacteria can accumulate on the aligners, increasing the risk of cavities. It’s important for your teen to brush their teeth after every meal, including school lunches.

To make this easier, provide them with a portable dental kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. This will allow them to easily keep up with their oral care routine throughout the day.

Tip #2: Protect Their Aligners

Invisalign aligners are small, clear, and easily damaged, so it’s important to keep them safe to avoid any interruptions in treatment. Emphasize the need to protect these aligners and remind your teenager to bring their storage case to school. This will provide a secure and convenient place to keep their aligners when they’re not in use.

Tip #3: Provide Invisalign-Friendly Lunches

Keeping your teenager nourished and energized at school is essential, especially when they’re using Invisalign. Although Invisalign doesn’t limit their diet, the aligners need to be removed during meals. To simplify this process, pack softer, easy-to-prepare foods for their school lunches to make it more convenient for them to manage their aligners and stay well-fed throughout the day.

Tip #4: Help Them Follow the 22-Hour Rule

For effective Invisalign treatment, the key is to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily. While your teenager might be tempted to remove them during class, it’s important to encourage them to keep the aligners in place as much as possible.

To help them manage this, consider using technology like the Trayminder app. They can also try to set a timer during your lunch break. This will allow them to track their wear time and to stay on track with the 22-hour goal.

As the new school year begins, it can be a hectic and overwhelming period, particularly for your teenager adjusting to Invisalign treatment. By implementing these tips, you can help make their dental care one less concern and ensure they manage their treatment smoothly.

About the Practice

At DeAngelo Dental of Homer Glen, our mission is to deliver a comfortable and outstanding dental care experience. Dr. Alan R. DeAngelo is committed to offering a wide range of treatments to address all your smile needs. Our practice is renowned for its exceptional patient care, providing comprehensive preventive, restorative, and emergency dental services. Drs. Leth, Tavary, and Wall are also available to offer guidance on managing your teenager’s Invisalign treatment as they head back to school. To schedule a consultation with Dr. DeAngelo or to learn more about our services, call us at (708) 301-3111 or visit our website.