Many people want to straighten their teeth to improve their dental health and enhance their appearance, but prefer to avoid the hassle and frustration of traditional braces. If you’re seeking a more comfortable and discreet solution, you might benefit from Invisalign. This service uses a series of plastic trays that fit over your teeth to gently shift them.
However, they must be worn 20 to 22 hours daily to prevent potential relapse, which many patients struggle with. Continue reading to learn 3 tips that might help you stick to the allotted Invisalign wear-time guidelines!
Tip #1: Track Your Time
Wearing your clear aligners for the recommended time each day means patients can expect to keep them inserted for most of the day and night. If you’re struggling to meet the provided guidelines, you might benefit from using a time-tracking app. Programs like The Tray Minder are intended to help you monitor how long you’ve worn your trays so you can clearly see whether you’re meeting the intended goal.
If you don’t have a smartphone, you can also track your time with a pen and paper, noting when you remove your aligners and reinsert them so you can calculate how long they’ve been outside of your mouth.
Tip #2: Multitask During Breaks
The smooth plastic material of Invisalign can be damaged or discolored by different foods and drinks, so they’re not intended to be worn to eat or drink anything other than water. That means you should take them out for meals, which often eats up a lot of your available Invisalign-free hours each day. Not only that, but they must be removed and thoroughly cleaned in the morning and at night, which often takes several minutes to complete.
If you’re struggling to meet the 20-22-hour wear time due to meals and maintenance, you might have better success by multitasking. For instance, you can leave your trays to soak in a solution of Invisalign cleaning crystals, which are designed to remove plaque and bacteria while you eat dinner, making better use of your time.
Tip #3: Stick to a Routine
You can also more easily meet your Invisalign wear-time by sticking to a standard schedule every day, which encourages the formation of healthy habits. For example, setting an alarm each morning so you remember to remove and brush your trays and eat breakfast helps you stick to the suggested guidelines more consistently. You might have better luck meeting the requirements when you’ve built them into your regular routine.
Many patients have successfully completed their Invisalign treatment by implementing one or more of these wear-time tips.
Meet the Author
Dr. Maryam Bemani is passionate about building relationships with patients so she can help them meet their goals to enhance their dental health. She earned her dental degree at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, and today, is also a certified Invisalign provider. She offers a comprehensive menu of services to people of all ages so that you and your family enjoy the same quality care. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (443) 251-5580.