One of the biggest draws of choosing Invisalign over other types of orthodontic treatment is that Invisalign is far less noticeable than traditional metal braces. Because the aligners are clear plastic, instead of shiny, metallic metal, they are far less likely to be noticed, even when you are standing and talking close to someone. That doesn’t mean, however, that Invisalign will have absolutely no effect on your dating life. Here are just some of the things you need to know about dating with Invisalign:
1. Invisalign can make you more confident.
How does Invisalign make you more confident? By actively straightening your teeth. Your teeth, which are visible when you smile, laugh, and talk, can be a serious concern for those who worry about how they look. A crooked smile can seriously hurt a person’s self-esteem, making them less confident and therefore less able to talk to or interact with someone they are interested in. Invisalign, on the other hand, can take away that insecurity, so instead of feeling sheepish when chatting up someone you are interested in dating, you will feel more confident!
2. Invisalign is less noticeable than wire and bracket braces.
Why does this matter? Because while it is significantly less noticeable than wires and brackets, Invisalign isn’t actually completely invisible. The aligners are made from clear plastic, and with proper cleaning, it can be very difficult for someone to detect that you are wearing anything at all on your teeth, but the trained eye will still be able to notice when someone is wearing Invisalign. The trained eye, however, is probably someone who either has worn or is currently wearing Invisalign, and is therefore unlikely to be put off by the fact that you are wearing your aligners. That said, most of our patients report that unless they directly told someone that they were wearing Invisalign, no one even noticed they were wearing their aligners.
3. Invisalign can make it a little difficult to talk normally.
In the first couple of weeks, as you adjusting to wearing Invisalign, you might notice that you are starting to talk with a lisp. You have introduced something new into your mouth and your tongue and lips have to get used to the obstacle before they can form words normally. This is the same reason that children whose teeth are growing in often develop lisps—because their lips and tongue are getting used to forming words with foreign objects in the mouth. A bit of practice is all you need to get rid of that lisp. Call sympathetic ears and talk to them for an hour or so each day in order to banish the lisp that might make you self-conscious in a social situation. Opting for metal braces won’t save you from this situation, either, since metal braces usually create the same problem.
4. Keep your Invisalign clean.
One of the biggest complaints about Invisalign is that the retainers give you bad breath. This can make dating with Invisalign difficult—but not impossible. The best way to avoid bad breath while wearing Invisalign is to keep your retainers clean. If you just pop your retainers out and back in without cleaning them, they will start to develop bacteria that is not only bad for your mouth, it is bad for your dating life. Make sure to develop and follow a strict cleaning routine. Though your Invisalign should spend most of their time in your mouth, when you take them out to brush your teeth, you should also clean your Invisalign. It’s important not to use toothpaste and your toothbrush to do this, as this can create small scratches in the plastic that will make it look cloudy and which will create channels that encourage bacteria growth. Using the right products on a daily basis will banish bacteria and keep your smile fresh and smelling great.
5. You have to be a little more aware of when you are going to eat or drink.
A lot of people date by sitting down for a meal or catching a coffee or a drink with their date. This means that you might want to develop a system that allows you to discreetly take out your aligners, before meals or drinking sugary or alcoholic drinks. While you don’t have to take out your aligners before drinking coffee, for example, the coffee is highly likely to stain the aligners, which will make them more noticeable. If you can’t find a way to take out the aligners, stick to water. Stepping into the bathroom at the bar, restaurant, or café is always an easy way to give yourself a second to take out your aligners. Just don’t forget to put them in a safe spot in your bag or purse so they aren’t accidentally thrown away or broken!
6. The results make dating easier.
While Invisalign might make dating a little bit more awkward in the early stages, once you get used to your aligners and have developed your routine for keeping them clean, taking them out, and putting them back in, you’ll find that your straighter teeth and invisible braces actually make dating a lot easier and more fun. Once you’ve finished your Invisalign treatment and have your beautifully straight teeth, you will be more confident, even than you were during your treatment.
Dating is already a little nerve wracking. Don’t let metal braces make it even more stressful! Dating with Invisalign is a great way to get your teeth straighter and to still pay the field.
