As a working professional, you know how important your appearance is. You want customers, clients and colleagues to take you seriously, so chances are your work wardrobe is impeccible and you spend a significant amount of time on your grooming regime to ensure you look neat, tidy and respectable. If you're insecure about your teeth, chances are you'll have considered treatments that are available but put off the idea of traditional braces in the worry they'll stand out or make you look juvenile. However, you dont need to put an end to the idea of straight teeth as an adult, treatments such as  Invisalign St John’s Wood, appear less conspicuous and can be a fantastic way of going about things when you need to maintain a professional appearance. Here's what you need to know. 

In order to avoid wearing down the material of the aligner, it is recommended that during times of food consumption, whether it be main meals or snacks, the aligner be removed. This not only protects the equipment but also helps avoid the build-up of food within the aligner. Whilst the removal of the appliance is important during this time, it is also vital that the aligner is returned to position and worn for around 22 hours a day. With this longevity in mind, it is strongly advised to carry out oral hygiene before returning the aligner to the mouth so as to avoid food debris being pressed against the tooth for long periods of time. Not only would this encourage a build-up of plaque but would also be unpleasant should another person comment on the debris between the teeth. It will mean starting up a dental care routine that works around your working hours, ideally each lunch break and at snack times you will remove your invisalign and rinse your mouth. 

Drinking sugary drinks, caffeinated drinks or alcohol is not generally advised during treatment as the teeth will most likely sit in the liquid for longer than intended. This can lead to staining of the teeth, plaque build-up and other dental problems. For this reason, if possible it is best to stick with water throughout the treatment. If you're used to being highly caffeinated to get through your busy work day then this is something to consider.

Unlike the more traditional brace methods, the inconspicuous aligners are tailor-made and therefore fit the patient’s teeth snugly. As the treatment progresses and the teeth begin to shift, as per your dentist's instructions, you will need to switch to the next set of aligners and then the next as progress is made. Using a series of aligners to push the teeth into a new position helps ensure that progress is continuously being achieved without the tightening of screws or elastic bands. 

As a professional person who will be communicating with others on a daily basis, this may be a worry as you need to maintain good speech. With all appliances in the mouth, it is common for slight alterations to the speech to occur. However, as you adjust to the aligner, your tongue will learn how to work around the aligner and therefore this is often a temporary change to speech. 

Although a click of the fingers and the treatment is yours sounds like a marvellous idea, it is important to understand the entire process as well as discover whether the treatment is the most suitable for your individual case. It is therefore important to begin discussions with your dental team before setting your heart on a particular treatment. Open up the discussion, attend a consultation and see where you end up.