Can You Kiss with Invisalign? Debunking Common Myths

As a result, many patients arrive in the practice with a lot of questions, often fuelled by myths they have heard about from others. While some of these myths are harmless and silly, others could be more damaging.

In this guide, we’re breaking down some of the most common myths we’ve heard about Invisalign. Armed with the truth, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about Invisalign.

Myth: Invisalign is only suitable for minor cases

Invisalign is an incredibly powerful aligner system that can be used for a wide array or orthodontic issues, including problems with your bite, overcrowding and rotations. If you’ve been led to believe that you can’t have Invisalign because you don’t have a simple alignment issue, then it’s time to visit an orthodontist to help clear up this misconception.

This isn’t to say that Invisalign will always be the best choice for your particular case, but you don’t have to rule it out if your case is more complex. It’s vital to explore all of the options available to you, rather than allowing you to get your heart set on a single treatment plan.

Myth: Mail order aligners are just the same

While many mail order aligner systems might be cheaper, the only thing you’ve saving money on is dental supervision. And dental supervision is an essential part of the process. Starting orthodontic treatment without seeing a dentist is incredibly risky, as photographs of your teeth cannot replace an in-person consultation with an expert.

With dentist-led Invisalign, you can be confident the treatment will be successful, as they will be able to respond to adapt the treatment as you progress. You could risk permanent damage to your teeth if you opt for an unsafe orthodontic treatment plan.

Myth: You can’t kiss with Invisalign

This myth is likely a hangover from the days when most orthodontic treatment was done with fixed braces. If both people are wearing fixed braces, there is always a risk that the wires and brackets could become attached, but this risk doesn’t exist with Invisalign.

Invisalign is popular with people of all ages because it offers the least amount of description to everyday life. This means you can continue all of your usual activities, whatever they might be, without worrying about damaging your aligners or delaying treatment.

Myth: You can “cheat” the wear time

Social media is full of poor advice related to orthodontics, including the idea that you can cheat your wear time and speed up treatment. This simply isn’t the case. The only way that Invisalign will be effective is if you are wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours per day. Your dentist will also be able to see if you aren’t wearing your aligners for long enough, so there are no shortcuts.

Some patients talk of “cheating” the wear time in the opposite way, meaning that they look for ways to minimise the time they remove their aligners. This could mean switching to plain water for hydration and getting comfortable cleaning their aligners on the go so they don’t have to avoid putting them back in and missing out on treatment time.

Myth: Invisalign is completely invisible

Invisalign is more discreet than alternative treatment plans such as fixed braces, but it’s not completely invisible. When someone is standing close to you, they might be able to see that you have plastic aligners on your teeth.

However, since the aligners are made from a clear plastic and laser cut to fit your teeth and gumline, they are incredibly comfortable and lightweight. Keeping the aligners clean will help to prevent staining that can make aligners look more visible.

Myth: Invisalign makes you lose weight

Invisalign doesn’t make you lose weight, but it could help you to make healthier choices. Since you have to remove your aligners to eat and drink anything other than clear and sugar-free liquids, some patients find that they lose weight when they go through treatment.

This is because they choose not to consume sugary drinks or snacks between meals, because the extra work of removing the aligners to eat or drink is simply too much effort. Patients often focus on eating three meals a day and switch to water to help minimise time spent cleaning their aligner and replacing it.

Ready to start your Invisalign journey?

If you’re curious about how Invisalign could transform your smile, book an appointment with our team today. As an Invisalign Apex provider, we’re among the top 1% of providers in Europe. This means you’re in excellent hands when you start Invisalign treatment with us.