Invisalign makes straightening your teeth more comfortable and convenient than traditional braces; however, with great flexibility comes great responsibility. In order to ensure the success of your treatment, you absolutely must wear your aligners for roughly 20 to 22 hours each day. Here are the top orthodontist-approved tips for helping you keep up with this so that your results are delivered right on schedule.
Tip #1. Track Your Wear Time
It’s easy to lose track of time during meals, school, work, or while traveling. Set alarms or timers on your smartphone or watch to help remind you when it’s time to reinsert your aligners. There are also specific apps designed for this!
Tip #2. Carry Your Case Everywhere
Your Invisalign carrying case should be as essential as your wallet, phone, or car keys—anywhere you or your Invisalign trays go, it needs to go, too. This ensures that you don’t accidentally lose or damage an aligner whenever you find yourself snacking away from home or rinsing your mouth.
Tip #3. Brush & Rinse After Eating
One reason people sometimes delay putting their aligners back in is because they need to brush after eating. Make this habit a priority, and the muscle memory will teach you to also reinsert your aligners right afterwards. Carrying a portable dental kit with you can help you maintain this habit.
Tip #4. Switch to New Aligners at Night
Usually, every two weeks you’ll have to swap to your new set of aligners, and doing this before bed can be quite helpful. It means you’re wearing them continuously for the first few hours, plus, you’ll be sleeping through the most uncomfortable part of the process.
Tip #5. Avoid Mindlessly Removing Your Aligners
It’s easy to fall into a pattern of removing your aligners for a quick minute here and there while cooking, having a conversation, or working out. However, these few minutes can greatly add up, so aim to make it a personal rule to only remove your trays when eating, brushing, or cleaning them.
Invisalign is an amazing orthodontic solution that many patients end up preferring over braces, but achieving ideal results requires a commitment from you. 22 hours a day may seem like a lot, but with good habits, it’ll be a breeze!
About the Practice
Our team here at Pinnacle Dental serves the needs of those in Braintree and the surrounding area, offering a wide range of services, including Invisalign clear aligners for patients who’d like to straighten their smile without the hassle of braces. If you have any questions about the blog or you need to schedule an appointment, call or reach out online for more information. Telephone: (781) 412-1412.
