8 things to know about Invisalign, explained by orthodontist in Forest Hill

24th Feb. 2026

8 things to know about Invisalign, explained by orthodontist in Forest Hill

After its introduction in 2000, Invisalign has quickly become one of the most preferred treatments when it comes to taking care of alignment issues. Aside from straightening your teeth and helping you correct your smile, it offers a range of advantages to traditional metal braces. But here are a few things you should know about these clear braces before you choose them.

1. They have to be worn consistently

As a clear aligner, the discreet nature of Invisalign is a big benefit, but it does come with a trade-off. Invisalign treatments take, on average, around one year, though this can change depending on the patient. To make sure that the treatment is as effective as possible, they have to be worn for at least 22 hours each day.

2. They can affect your speech for a short time

Since they’re a set of clear braces you wear inside your mouth, it’s not uncommon for people to have some trouble speaking with Invisalign initially. Changes to your speech, like a small lisp, do reside over time, however.

3. Not everyone is suited to Invisalign

With the help of your orthodontist in Forest Hill, Invisalign is a highly effective treatment for teeth straightening, helping with crooked teeth, underbites, overbites, and gaps. However, there are some cases that are severe enough that Invisalign may not be the right choice for, as they may take too long without traditional braces or other orthodontic treatments. 

4. You may want to carry a toothbrush on you in day-to-day light

To ensure their effectiveness, you need to keep your clear aligner and your teeth free from food and drink debris as best as possible. As such, you should brush your teeth every time you eat. Otherwise, that food debris can end up making your invisible aligners much less invisible.

5. You may have to live without certain food and drinks

Just as you want to keep them free from debris, you also want to keep your Invisalign clear braces free from stains. As such, avoiding coffee, red wine, tea, chocolate, and other such foods might become your way of life for a while. It’s worth noting, however, that you may have to avoid even more foods with traditional braces.

6. They’re virtually painless

Retainers will cause some degree of pressure or tenderness while they help with teeth straightening. However, Invisalign clear braces are virtually painless when compared to traditional braces.

7. They require extra cleaning

Your clear aligners will require cleaning, but toothpaste is too abrasive. As such, you will be given a specialist cleaning solution that can be used to keep them in good condition.

8. They’re similar in cost to braces

Given the advantages of Invisalign, it’s often assumed they cost much more than traditional braces, but they tend to cost around the same amount, if not a little more.

Get your Invisalign at your orthodontist in Forest Hill

Don’t hesitate to get in touch to see if Invisalign could be just the solution for you. We will take a deeper look with you to make sure that we recommend the best course for teeth straightening treatments.