How to Meet Your 22-Hour Invisalign Wear Time

When you start wearing Invisalign aligners, it’s easy to get caught up in their convenient features. Unlike metal braces, they’re discrete, removable, and don’t get in the way of teeth-cleaning! However, you should also remember that there’s such a thing as Invisalign wear time. In particular, you must keep the trays on your teeth for 22 hours each day; your treatment won’t work otherwise. If you think that requirement sounds daunting, though, never fear. Read on to learn why and how to meet your aligning trays’ daily time.

Why the Invisalign Wear Time Matters

You see, Invisalign trays align teeth through micro-movements. These small shifts — spread out over several months or longer — gently nudge your pearly whites with minimal discomfort. It’s due to this gentle, yearlong method that dentists have you wear straighter trays over time.

However, the micro-movement process only works when your trays are on your teeth. As a result, Invisalign recommends that you wear the trays for at least 20 to 22 hours per day. If you don’t, your straightening progress will be delayed, interrupted, or even reversed.

Tips for Meeting the 22-Hour Mark

When you practice certain key habits, it’s quite possible to meet the 22-hour wear time. Consider the ones listed below:

• Make Invisalign Part of Your Oral Hygiene: When you brush, floss, or rinse your teeth, remember to put on your aligner trays afterward. In doing so, this act will eventually become nearly automatic.
• Only Take out Trays at Meal-Times: More specifically, remove your trays for 15 minutes at breakfast, 30 minutes at lunch, and 60 minutes at dinner. That way, you’ll have wiggle room if you need a snack and enough time for your oral hygiene regimen.
• Save Time by Multi-Tasking: Before you tuck into a meal, place your aligners in a glass of water with cleaning crystals. This act ensures the trays are ready to be put back in your mouth once you’ve finished eating.
• Switch to New Trays Right Before Bed: You might want to put off wearing new trays if you think they’ll cause immediate pain. That said, put them on before bed so you’ll be asleep during the straightening. Not only will this reduce discomfort, but you won’t be awake to take your aligners out.

Invisalign has great perks, but it won’t work if you don’t wear its trays. Thankfully, the tips above will make the 22-hour rule a breeze!

About the Practice

Rosenfeld Dental Associates is based in Edison, NJ. As led by Dr. David S. Rosenfeld, the practice offers high-quality dental care with unmatched ability. To that end, its staff can perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dentistry when needed. Their office is also a qualified provider of Invisalign orthodontics. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (908)-668-7838.