If you want to get Invisalign, you may know its trays are removable. A major appeal of clear aligners is that they don’t stick to your smile like metal braces! Still, don’t think you can be careless; you must wear the trays often for them to work. You’ll only have a successful treatment if you meet your Invisalign wear time. As for how to do so, your Harker Heights dentist can help. Read on to learn about Invisalign’s wear time and four great ways to meet it.
What’s This About a Wear Time?
Invisalign trays may be removable, but you can’t just use them as you please. They must stay on your smile 22 hours daily; this wear time ensures treatment success.
You see, clear aligners are only effective when they connect with your teeth. Their materials need contact with your pearly whites to slowly (and surely) shift them with micro-movements. However, they can only make the small shifts in your smile if worn near-constantly. It’s to the point that patients should only remove the aligners for meals and teeth cleaning.
If you don’t stick to the 22-hour wear time, your Invisalign treatment will get off track. Your teeth will have many chances to return to their earlier position(s).
How to Meet Invisalign’s Wear Time
Wearing clear trays 22 hours a day may seem hard, but it’s doable with the right methods. Just use tips and tricks like the following:
- Remove the Trays at Meal Times – Take out your trays for 15 minutes at breakfast, 30 minutes at lunch, and 60 minutes at dinner. Doing so leaves wiggle room for a snack or to finish your oral care routine.
- Use Phone Reminders – Keep track of your wear time with a smartphone app. Some even monitor its changes throughout the day.
- Set the Trays in Water – Before and during dinner, place your trays in a glass of cold water with cleaning crystals. This step leaves the aligners ready to return to your mouth once you’re done eating.
- Make Aligners Part of Oral Care – Remember to brush, floss, and rinse after meals and then re-insert your trays.
- Switch Your Trays Before Bed – Since you’ll be sleeping soon after, switching trays before bed makes you less tempted to take them out.
As for other ways to meet your Invisalign wear time, consult your dental provider. They’ll gladly help you keep the trays on your grin!
About the Practice
Market Heights Family Dental is based in Harker Heights, TX. Led by Drs. Tochterman and Pundt, our practice is dedicated to the work of comprehensive dentistry. That means we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, all tailored to your smile and its unique oral needs. Our office is also proud to be a certified provider of Invisalign® clear aligners. For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (254)-699-3565.