Part of the appeal of Invisalign is that your aligners easily remove for things like meals and oral health care. But failing to take them out for the two-hours-a-day time limit can cause delays in your treatment. Here are a few ways to make sure yours are off for 2 hours each day, and on for 22!
Meals & Drinks
You must remove your Invisalign aligners to eat and to drink anything other than water, so most of the time they’re out should be dedicated to meals. You may want to consider how much time you spend on each meal to divide up that time efficiently, so consider something like 45 minutes for dinner, and 15 minutes for lunch and breakfast. This will give you 45 minutes to make sure you have brushed and flossed properly, and maybe even allow for a mid-day beverage or two, too.
Get the App
For those who lose track of time, there is an app called “The Tray Minder” which can help you keep on schedule with when you should have your trays out and when it’s time to put them back in.
Multitask
A helpful tip that some patients have found success with is soaking their trays during meals, so they don’t have to spend an additional 15 minutes with them out. This way, once your teeth are clean, your aligner will be ready to put back in, giving you a few more minutes for an iced coffee or an extra piece of cake during the day!
Make it a Habit
Another useful tip is to schedule your oral hygiene routine for the same times each day. Heading to bed at nine? Plan to take care of your teeth at 8:45. Wake up at seven? Have your breakfast and brush and floss at 7:30. Once you’ve made caring for your teeth and your aligners part of your routine, it will become second nature.
Night Moves
When it’s time to swap out your aligners for a new set, it’s often easier to do it at night. Not only will it allow you to skip the soak that evening, but it will also allow you to adjust to the new trays as you sleep so hopefully some of the initial discomfort will have already passed by the time you wake up.
Remember, while aligner-free time is allowed with Invisalign, it’s very important that you do not exceed those two hours. Try these useful tips to help you stay on schedule, so your treatment doesn’t take longer than it needs to!
About Our Practice
At Amaze Dental, our highly skilled team is ready to amaze you with how different we are from your usual practice. We focus on you and your family, making you feel comfortable and treating you like individuals. We never push unwanted or unnecessary treatments, and we’ll never treat you like you’re just another number.
To schedule an appointment for Invisalign, please visit our website or call us today at 972-230-1100.