InvisalignOrthodontic Tips

Caring for Aligners: On Your Way to a Healthy Smile

By February 25, 2025 No Comments

Caring for aligners is an important part of the orthodontic journey: The better care taken and the more they are worn, the more comfortable and effective they will be. Teeth will move as planned, and the completion of treatment is more predictable.

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Brushing and Flossing:

  • For aligners to work, the teeth and gums must be clean. Good oral hygiene is also important to minimise straining on and around the attachments. A toothbrush is given when your attachments are placed, and you will be given instructions on how to maintain excellent oral hygiene.
  • Change your toothbrush every three months.
  • Taking care of teeth and gums becomes extra important, and caring for them (as well as the aligners) means taking the time to brush and floss regularly: after removing the aligners for eating, regularly rinse with water during the day, brush teeth for a minimum of two minutes (morning and night) and floss nightly.
  • Use a toothbrush with a soft head and a toothpaste with fluoride. Be gentle when brushing or flossing in order to avoid damaging the gums.
  • If oral hygiene is not up to a high standard, you are at high risk of developing tooth decay and at risk of having the treatment stopped early to avoid long-term issues. Furthermore, when teeth are not being cleaned properly, gum disease arises. Gum disease slows down tooth movement – meaning treatment will take longer than expected.

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Aligner Wear:

  • Invisalign aligners must be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day for best results.
  • Aligners must be worn day and night and be removed only when: Eating any foods; drinking any hot or cold beverages (apart from cold water); and brushing and flossing teeth.
  • Hands must be washed well after every time an aligner is taken out and put back in.
  • When aligners are first delivered, a slight lisp may become obvious. This should disappear over the following few days.
  • Each set of aligners will be worn for one to two weeks (as per the orthodontist’s instructions). Review appointments will be arranged every eight to 12 weeks to check on the progress. Do not try to fast-track your treatment. That will only delay the overall treatment time!
  • With each set of new aligners, a little extra pressure or discomfort can be felt for the first few days – this is normal. Small rubber appliances termed “chewies” will be given to make sure these aligners are fitting correctly, to allow the teeth to move. These chewies are reusable. Continuously bite/chew into them while holding them between your fingers. Do this twice a day, wash them and keep them in your case.

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Cleaning Aligners:

  • Rinse your aligners twice a day, and brush both the fitting surface and outside surface gently with your toothbrush with cold water, using dishwashing liquid or liquid soap to keep them fresh and clean. Hot water must be avoided as it will cause the aligners to distort. Soak in white vinegar for five minutes once a week to eliminate odours.
  • Do not put the aligners in the dishwasher.
  • Do not use toothpaste on aligners, as it is too abrasive and will cause aligners to discolour.
  • Rinse mouth out before placing aligners back in after eating, to make sure that no food gets trapped inside the aligners.

Attachments/Aligners Care:

  • Please keep aligners out of reach of any pets (especially dogs), as they will chew them up!
  • Small attachments will be placed on teeth to allow specific movements of individual teeth. They will feel strange on your teeth for the first couple of days, until you get used to them. Do not eat hard/sticky/crunchy foods. These foods can damage/break the attachments.
  • Please do not throw the aligners away once you finish wearing them. Keep all the aligners until your treatment is completed.
  • If you lose or break the aligners, move onto the next aligner and let us know immediately.
  • Elastic wear (if applicable) – wear these as advised, day and night. Only take them out to eat and brush your teeth. If not worn correctly or for long enough, teeth go back to their original position. This will add time onto your overall treatment.
  • When aligners are not in your mouth, keep them in their container to avoid losing or breaking them. Do not wrap them in a napkin or kitchen towel and do not put them in your pocket – they are often lost this way.
  • If anything happens to the aligners or the attachments, contact us as soon as possible so we can advise on what to do. In case this occurs after-hours, try moving onto the next aligner. If the next aligner does not fit well, then wear the aligners before. Please, remember to contact us during working hours in order for us to address the issue.

Appointments:

  • Missing appointments adds time onto your overall treatment time. So, please attend your appointments.

Caring for Removable Plate(s)

 

Shakespeare Orthodontics: Shaping a Smile You Will Love​

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Dr. Adriana Perez

BDS (Ven/Esp) | MDS-Orth (Arg)
 
Dr. Adriana Perez grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. She is one of the registered specialist orthodontist working at Shakespeare Orthodontics in Auckland.

 

In 2008, Adriana graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Santa Maria University in Caracas, Venezuela. After graduation, she worked in Venezuela in private practice, at the Orthopaedic Children’s Hospital (Dentistry/Orthodontics unit), and as a lecturer in the National Experimental University of the Armed Forces.

In the year 2011, Adriana moved to Argentina to specialise, gaining the Specialist Orthodontist degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 2013. While in Argentina, she worked as a part-time lecturer at the Orthodontics Department in the University of Buenos Aires, private practice, and at the Craniofacial Unit in the Paediatric Hospital Garrahan, looking after cleft lip new-born, children, and adolescent patients.

Adriana is a Spanish speaker. On her spare time she likes going to the beach, travelling, socialising with friends, playing video games, cooking, and going to the gym.

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Orthodontist Adriana Perez

Dr. Azza Al-Ani

BDS | DClinDent | MRACDS-Orth | MOrthRCSEd

Dr Azza Al-Ani, grew up in Christchurch, is a registered specialist orthodontist working at Shakespeare Orthodontics in Auckland. You can find her at one of the clinics in the city, or at their Takapuna clinic on the North Shore. 

In 2009, Azza graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Credit from the University of Otago.

She worked as a dental house surgeon at Auckland, Greenlane and Middlemore Hospitals; and as a dental officer at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital.

In 2012, she completed the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS) primary examinations.

Before commencing her specialist training, she held a part-time Professional Practice Fellow position at the Faculty of Dentistry, while working as a dentist in private practice.

In 2016, Azza graduated from the University of Otago with a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Orthodontics. She passed examinations to gain memberships into the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

She is also certified with the Australasian Orthodontic Board, and is a member of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, and the New Zealand Dental Association.

Azza’s area of research interest is hypodontia.
She has presented about this topic at the European Orthodontic Society Congress, and at the International Association Dental Research ANZ Scientific Meeting, and has been involved in the publication of numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Outside of work, Azza loves spending time with her son and Mo (her husband), socialising with family and friends, overseas travel, and tries to keep up with Mo mountain biking.

Dr. Mo Al-Dujaili

BDS | DClinDent | MRACDS-Orth | MOrthRCSEd

 

Mo is a Specialist Orthodontist. He grew up in both New Zealand and Australia.

After completing a year in Health Sciences, and later physiotherapy, he qualified as a dentist in New Zealand. He spent the next four years working alongside his father in Sydney where he practised general dentistry. Mo then returned to Dunedin to specialise, gaining his specialist degree – Clinical Doctorate in Orthodontics from the University of Otago.

During the three years of specialist training, Mo had the privilege of learning from the best. The combined clinical and academic acumen of professors, doctors and staff provided an invaluable experience.

Meanwhile, Mo published and presented significant research and clinical cases at both national and international forums, including the International Association of Dental Research, the Australasian Begg Society of Orthodontics, the European Orthodontic Society and the New Zealand Dental Association conference.

A firm believer in maintaining high clinical standards, Mo successfully completed further examinations to become affiliated with the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Sydney).

Mo is currently a part time senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, a Fellow of the World Federation of Orthodontists and also holds professional memberships with the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, the New Zealand Dental Association and American Association of Orthodontists.

He has also been involved in the supervising and lecturing of students at the Auckland University of Technology.

Outside of work, Mo enjoys the precious time with his young family and the outdoors. He especially loves mountain biking, running, fishing, diving and, in winter, snowboarding.

Traveling along with his best friend and wife (Azza) around the world has also been a big part of Mo’s life. Mo is primarily based in Shakespeare Orthodontic’s city clinics and on the North Shore.

 
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