Our orthodontists are known throughout Manchester and Stockport as being experts in clear aligners – and we’ve posted many blogs on the topic over the months. In this one, we talk about troubleshooting your clear braces, so you’re fully prepared wherever you are in your treatment.

1. Broken aligners

This is more common than you might think, especially as with clear braces, you’ll often need to remove them (for eating, chewing, brushing etc). It’s for this reason that our orthodontists always recommend purchasing a storage case for your aligners to stow them inside when you need to take them out. However, if they do break, get in touch with our team, as it depends on when you are in your treatment phase (for example, if you’ve just started a phase, you may need a new set, while if you’re ending a phase, you might be able to fast-track to the next set).

2. Stained aligners

If you smoke or vape, or if you eat or drink while wearing your clear braces, you run the risk of staining the clear aligners. While this shouldn’t impact the treatment itself, it makes your clear braces much more noticeable to others. In addition, if you haven’t removed them for mealtimes, or haven’t been cleaning them(or your teeth) correctly, you may be putting your dental health at risk. We recommend rinsing the aligners and brushing them with your toothbrush, and you should always clean your teeth after eating, before putting them back in. For the record, our orthodontists strongly advise quitting smoking or vaping, as it is detrimental to your oral health.

3. Uncomfortable clear braces

With any brace treatment, there may be periods where you experience discomfort. This is entirely normal, as you are applying force to gently move the teeth into a new position. Most patients do experience some slight pressure on their teeth when changing to their next set of clear aligners, but this does ease during the phase. If you notice any redness or soreness on your gums, however, it could be a sign of gum disease, and for that, it’s best to get in touch with our dental practice. 

4. Ill-fitting clear braces

Clear braces are unique in that they work out every stage (phase) of your treatment and predict results. Aligners are then created for each phase. However, your teeth may be a bit ‘behind schedule’ and a previous set of aligners hasn’t moved them enough for the next set to fit. This doesn’t typically happen that often, but if it does, talk to us–we may recommend you wear your previous set a little longer before changing up.

For any other questions, comments, queries or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our dental practice. We’re known throughout Manchester and Stockport for our commitment to patient excellence and our expertise in clear aligners – you really couldn’t be in better hands