These days, more and more patients are opting for Invisalign clear aligners to achieve straighter and more confident smiles. The aligners are more discreet than metal braces, far more comfortable to wear, and come with many other bonuses, including a lack of dietary restrictions. Invisalign is also fully removable; however, the aligners still need to be worn for roughly 22 hours every day to accomplish their task. Nonetheless, some patients find it challenging to meet this wear time—here are some useful tips to keep in mind.
Tip #1. Only Remove Your Aligners When It’s Necessary
A helpful mindset to adapt during Invisalign treatment is to remember that the only times when you should remove your aligners are if you’re about to eat or brush your teeth. Even for snacks throughout the day, or for beverages other than regular water, they need to come out in order to prevent them from being stained or damaged.
This is why the Invisalign “golden rule” is to wear the trays for 22 hours a day, rather than 24/7—you must account for eating and oral hygiene! The rest of the time, the aligners should be worn, no exceptions. It often helps to set a phone timer or reminder to ensure you stay on top of this.
Tip #2. Carry Your Invisalign Case Everywhere
When you receive your Invisalign, the trays will come with a special carrying case designed to securely hold them whenever they aren’t being worn. It’s crucial that you not only use this, but also take it with you everywhere. It’s small enough that it should fit in a car glovebox, purse, backpack, or even your pocket.
It might seem like an added hassle, but the truth is, Invisalign aligners are easily lost or thrown away. You might set them down on a napkin or tabletop, and without even realizing it, they might disappear or completely break. Your case keeps them safe and also makes it easier to pop them back in once you’re ready.
Tip #3. Use Invisalign Tools to Make Things Easier
It’s not uncommon for patients to have a little trouble taking out or putting back in their aligners when they first start their treatment. This can sometimes cause them to become undisciplined, and they might leave their aligners out for longer than they’re supposed to or even wear them when eating or drinking.
Using Invisalign-specific tools to remove your aligners and pop them back into place can make things far easier. The logic here is that if removing/reinserting your aligners is incredibly simple, you’re far more likely to do it as instructed.
The bottom line is, meeting your 22-hour Invisalign wear time is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a successful outcome, and with a little planning and the right approach, things become much smoother!
About the Practice
Our team here at Simply Orthodontics of Wayland has proudly served patients and families in the community for several years under the talented leadership of Dr. Nina Khedkar. We offer a variety of orthodontic services for patients of all ages, including traditional braces, Invisalign, ceramic braces, and beyond. If you have any questions about the blog or about Invisalign, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one, you can call us or reach out online for more information or assistance. Telephone: (508) 358-6300.
Follow Us