Invisalign has allowed millions of patients to straighten their teeth without the troublesome dietary restrictions or conspicuous metal parts that come with traditional braces. While many report that Invisalign is an easier and more comfortable treatment than other orthodontic methods, it still requires a significant amount of effort on the patient’s part to deliver the best possible results. Here’s why it’s important to wear your clear aligners for twenty-two hours each day as well as a few tips for meeting your wear time requirement.
Why Do I Have to Wear My Invisalign Clear Aligners for 22 Hours Each Day?
Invisalign clear aligners work by exerting constant pressure on the teeth to shift them into healthier positions. Since your teeth will immediately begin to shift out of position when you are not wearing your aligners, you must wear them for 20 to 22 hours each day to keep your treatment on track. Neglecting to wear your aligners sufficiently can ruin the progress you have already made and cause costly delays in your treatment.
How Can I Wear My Aligners Enough Each Day?
Luckily, there are a few ways to make it easier to wear your aligners sufficiently every day. These include:
Wear Your Aligners When Not Eating, Drinking, or Cleaning Your Teeth
Ideally, you will only remove your clear aligners when eating, practicing oral hygiene, or drinking anything but water. To prevent dental infections and unsightly stains from forming on your teeth, it is imperative that you brush and floss thoroughly and carefully rinse your aligners before you wear them.
Keep a Schedule in Mind
By budgeting a certain amount of time for meals, snacks, and oral hygiene every day, you can control how much time you go without wearing your aligners. For example, you can schedule forty minutes for each meal and ten minutes for each oral hygiene session.
Switch to Your Next Set of Aligners Before Bed
You may experience a sense of tightness around your teeth for about eight hours when you first start wearing a new set of clear aligners. Many patients get around this mild discomfort by switching to their new aligners and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever before bed so they can sleep through it.
Invisalign can deliver marvelous results if you comply with your dentist’s instructions. By wearing your aligners enough each day, you can keep your treatment going smoothly and eventually enjoy all the benefits that come with a well-aligned smile.
About the Author
Dr. Adriana Zaharie earned her DDS at the University of Antioquia and her DMD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. She continues to advance her education with coursework from the Periodontist Study Club and Viva Dental Seminars. Her office in Katy offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as Invisalign treatments. To learn more about how you can keep your Invisalign treatment on track, contact her office online or dial (281) 394-4001.