ALIGNER GUIDE.
HELLO,
Your invisible aligners have arrived. You are about to start on your smile journey. Follow these instructions so we can transform your smile simply and discreetly. Let s get this party started!
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING YOUR SMILE DIRECT.
We are so excited you have started your smile journey with us. If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call or drop us a mail at info@yoursmiledirect.com Let s get our grin on :)
3 STEP PROCESS.
1 FIRST IMPRESSION We ve already completed your Smile Assessment and delivered your 3D Smile Preview. 2 ALIGNERS Your BPA free custom-made aligners have arrived. 3 REVEAL YOUR SMILE To maintain your perfect smile we recommend you buy a retainer. You ll have to wear them full time for 6 months to keep that perfect new smile.
1 IDENTIFYING YOUR CORRECT ALIGNERS. Inside your box you will find a series of aligners. Your first aligners (Stage 1), be they upper or lower, will be labelled A1. A1 Check your 3D Smile Preview page to see how long you should wear each aligner. Some plans will require you to wear your first aligners for four weeks, others will require just two or three weeks. Please check your own 3D Smile Preview as its custom made for you. If you are unsure, contact the YourSmileDirect customer care team and they ll clarify for you.
After the first stage, each aligner should be worn for the full number of days as per your wear schedule (i.e. 14 days for a 2 week wear schedule) unless otherwise specified in your 3D Smile Preview before moving onto the next set of aligners. Each new aligner will feel tight when it is first inserted and you may experience some discomfort. This is normal when undergoing any orthodontic treatment. This should not last and your speech, if initially affected, should also normalise very quickly. After you have been wearing the aligner as specified in your plan, you should notice that it s easier to fit and remove. This is because the aligner has become passive and has achieved the desired movements; it is to to move onto the next one. Please make sure you wear your clear aligners for 22 hours every day.
2 MY ALIGNERS AND ME. Here is everything you need to know about your aligners! Inserting Aligners To insert the upper aligner first place the aligner over your front teeth. Then using the tops of your fingers push the aligner into position using equal pressure on the back until it clicks fully into place. Do not bite the aligners into place this will damage the aligners. As applicable, repeat the process for your lower teeth using the lower aligner. If there s space between your the tips of your teeth and your aligners just order some Aligner Chewies. These small rubbery cylinders are used to help solve fitting issues with your aligners. Just pop one between your teeth and chew! Use your
chewies a few times a day, going all around the aligner, for 5 to 10 minutes to help the aligners do their work, especially just before bed to make sure they stay tight during the night. To Remove The aligner can be removed by using your index finger and thumb. Start by unseating the rear and then work your way forward. Rinse under cold water. Shake off excess water. Sometimes tight aligners can be hard to take out, that s why we offer Retainer Removers. These little blue hooks helps loosen tight aligners to pop them out without damaging them. Wearing Your Aligners Please wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours per day. A Little Pain Is Normal It s perfectly normal to experience some discomfort during your treatment. If you don t feel any discomfort, you re all set.
2 About the Lisp It s very common to have a slight lisp for the first few days after wearing a new set of aligners. Eventually, your mouth will get used to having the aligners in. Sleeping Is it okay? Of course! Wear your aligners when you sleep, now catch some ZZZ s. Eating Out We recommend taking them out before your dinner begins. After your meal, brush your teeth, give your aligners a quick rinse and then pop them back in. Eating Unlike braces, you can eat or drink whatever you want. There s just one catch: you have to take your aligners out before you enjoy any tasty treats. During treatment be careful not to eat anything too hard with your front
teeth, it might cause damage. Oh, and always brush your teeth before putting the aligners back in. Give the aligners a little rinse too. It s always a good idea to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before handling your aligners. Drinking You should only drink cool water while wearing your aligners. Hot liquids while wearing your aligners. Hot liquids will damage or warp your aligners and other beverages, like soda, encourage cavities and stains. So if you re going to drink any of the above, just pop your aligners out first. Smoking You really shouldn t smoke while wearing your aligners. The smoke can stain them and give you permanent yucky mouth. Chewing Gum Just no. Don t do it.
3 MAINTENANCE Keep your aligners clean by rinsing them with cool water and gently scrubbing using a soft toothbrush. Do not use toothpaste as this can potentially damage the aligner. Lost An Aligner? If you lose or damage an aligner then please contact YourSmileDirect customer care team on info@yoursmiledirect.com immediately where you can purchase a replacement aligner to ensure you continue with your 3D Smile Preview for effective results. You can revert to the previous aligner until your replacement arrives.
4 TOP TIPS File Them Down Break out the nail file if your aligners are feeling a little too snug around the gums. Use it gently to sand and round any edges that are uncomfortable. It s literally your gums best friend but be extra careful, if you sand too much, you might damage the aligners. Keeping Your Aligners Clean You should always rinse your aligners with cool water every night. But if you really want to clean the nooks and crannies of your aligners, only use a soft toothbrush. Food that gets trapped in aligners will promote cavities. Lost or Broken Aligner Break or lose an aligner? It happens. First, immediately go back to wearing your previous
aligner set. This way your teeth will be prevented from shifting back. Then give us a call or email us on info@yoursmiledirect.com to order your replacements. How Should You Feel? Until you ve completed your aligner treatment, your teeth may feel a little strange. This is all normal. Your teeth are being gently moved with each set of aligners you wear. By the way, if your teeth don t hurt that s ok too. Important! You Must Wear Your Aligners Not wearing your aligners for the prescribed amount of time is not good. It will negatively impact your results. Our orthodontics can tell when aligners haven t been worn. If you want that perfect smile, wear your aligners!
4 Treatment Update Sometimes your new aligners won t fully snap into place. It s OK! There might be minor differences between the new aligners and your current tooth position because your teeth are moving. Don t worry, after you wear your aligner for a few days the problem will resolve itself. Also, as you approach the end of each step your aligner might start to feel looser. It s normal, it just means your teeth are ready for the next step. Keep Your Aligners Don t throw your aligners away. Keep all aligners after you re finished wearing them and store them in a cool, dry place. You ll need them if you lose or break an aligner.
ALIGNER DO S Wrap your aligners in a napkin or paper towel, or they may crack. Clean your aligners before putting them in every time. Brush and floss before putting your aligners in. Rinse with cold water after cleaning. Use a soft bristle toothbrush and cold water to get a more thorough clean. Rinse after cleaning. Keep your aligners stored safely away from pets or children when you re not wearing them. Regular cleanings are recommended for the continued health of your teeth and gums.
ALIGNER DON TS Use sharp objects to remove your aligners. Expose your aligners to direct sunlight or excessive heat. Use denture cleaner on your aligners or soak your aligners in mouthwash as this may damage or discolour them. Wear aligners while eating or drinking anything other than cool water. Bite your aligners into position. This can damage your aligners and your teeth. Use hot or boiling water to clean your aligners or place them in the dishwasher.
5 RETAINERS On your 3rd last aligner you will need to notify the customer care team to buy your personalised retainer. Retainers are made of a thicker BPAfree material so as to last longer and hold your teeth in place firmly. When your treatment is complete, you must wear your retainers for 22 hours a day over 6 months and after the 6 months you should wear your retainer at night as you sleep in order to protect and maintain your new smile. *Please refer to website for up-to-date retainer costs.
LET S BE FRIENDS.
We ll keep in touch during your smile journey, however if you have any questions, comments, or concerns just call one of our customer care team on UK 0330 808 0447 / IRL 01 254 8440 / AUS/NZ 006 12 83 10 77 28 or email info@yoursmiledirect.com
JOIN THE SMILE REVOLUTION.
UK 0330 808 0447 IRL 01 254 8440 AUS/NZ 006 12 83 10 77 28 yoursmiledirect.com