Wearing Invisalign aligners gives you unprecedented freedom while straightening your teeth faster than with traditional methods. Your trays easily remove so you can eat and maintain your oral hygiene without struggling around wires and brackets. But to ensure your treatment is completed on schedule, you’ll need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours each day. If you’re struggling to meet the minimum time requirement, here are a few tips for making the most of your tray-free time.
Make a Schedule
One of the easiest ways to remember how to divvy up your aligner-free time is to create a schedule for all the activities you’ll need to remove them for. A good example of this is:
- 15 minutes for breakfast
- 30 minutes for lunch
- 60 minutes for dinner
These times include your oral hygiene routine built in and still allow you 15 extra minutes for snacks and other reasons you may need to be aligner-free.
Aligner Tracking Apps
If you have a smartphone, there are several apps available in the app store for tracking your aligner use. They may require a purchase but can be well worth the investment if they help you keep track of how long you’ve worn your trays during the day so you don’t exceed your time limit.
Do Double Duty
If you’re going to have your aligners out anyway, you might as well multitask. A great way to maximize your free time is to soak your aligners in warm water and cleaning crystals while you’re eating dinner so you can clean them while you eat. Then you won’t need to do it when you’re done!
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Create an oral hygiene routine, and stick to it. Remember to brush your teeth, floss them, and rinse your aligners immediately after eating, and put them back in as soon as you’re done!
Swap Schedule
When it’s time to advance to your next set of aligners, do so right before you head to bed. That way, you’ll sleep through the first few hours of discomfort and give your teeth a chance to get used to them before you’re awake. Plus, you’ll be less likely to want to take them out due to soreness and take away from your aligner-free time when you’re awake!
Remember, while you do still have unprecedented freedom with Invisalign, this will only benefit you if you don’t overdo it. Thus, be sure to wear your aligners at least 22 hours each day with the help of these time-maximizing tips!
About Dr. Alani
Dr. Terri Alani has been voted one of Houston’s top dentists for the past three years in a row, and it’s easy to see why. Between her caring bedside manner, her compassionate treatment of every patient, and her high level of skill in providing a wide range of dental treatments, she’s the perfect choice for all your oral health needs.
If you are interested in learning more about how Invisalign treatment can help align your teeth easier and faster than with traditional braces, schedule a consultation with Dr. Alani by visiting our website or calling 713-621-5141.