With no dietary restrictions or complicated oral hygiene regimens, Invisalign is a relatively hassle-free treatment. Of course, there is one “rule” that patients are often surprised by: you must wear the aligners for 20-22 hours a day. Since you can’t eat, drink anything other than water, or brush with your trays in, you might have a hard time meeting this goal. If that’s the case, then read on for six tips for meeting your Invisalign wear time!
First, Why Does Meeting the 20-22 Hour a Day Wear Time Matter?
Think that neglecting the 20-22 hour wear time won’t matter? Think again! After all, your aligners only work to move your teeth while you’re wearing them. Consistently missing the mark can cause you to quickly fall off-track with your timeline, potentially requiring you to spend more time and money on your treatment. Fortunately, meeting this goal is easier than you think with the right best practices in place.
6 Tips to Help You Meet the 20-22 Hour Wear Time
Good news: with a few small tweaks to your daily routine, you can meet the 20-22 hour a day goal with ease. With this in mind, try:
- Designating 15 minutes for breakfast, 30 minutes for lunch, and 60 minutes for dinner.
- Allocating the remaining 15 minutes to snacks and completing your oral hygiene regimen.
- Using the Invisalign app to track your wear time throughout the day.
- Keeping your aligners in while you cook.
- Soaking your trays in the cleaning crystals while you eat.
- Completing your oral hygiene routine immediately after your meals.
What Should I Do If I Lose or Break My Aligner?
A misplaced or broken aligner can quickly eat into your 20-22 hour a day wear time, so make sure to reach out to your dental team right away! Depending on where you are in the treatment plan, they may recommend wearing your previous trays in the meantime or simply moving onto your next set.
To get the beautiful results you desire as quickly as possible, it’s important to prioritize your wear time. With the above tips, it should be significantly easier!
About the Author
Dr. Ron Sherman is different from other dentists in the best ways possible – his 400+ 5-star reviews can attest to that! In addition to having more than 30 years of experience and a genuine passion for dentistry, he gives his personal number to everyone so they can reach out to him directly for emergencies, questions about oral hygiene, and everything in between. If you’d like to learn more about the Invisalign treatment process or you’d like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit his website or call his office at (425) 391-4964.