DO
Wear your aligners 22 out of 24 hours a day and use chewies every time aligner is placed into mouth
Keep appointments regular and avoid cancelling or rearranging
Clean with toothbrush and soap with cold water
Keep your aligner safe in a crush proof box when it is not being worn
Remove for eating and brushing teeth
Bring all remaining (unworn) aligners to each appointment
If aligners are broken, lost or attachments come off contact the practice as soon as possible for advice Brush your teeth 3 times a day
DO NOT
Do not drink fizzy drinks with aligners in, if possible
Do not leave aligners in the sun or in the car on a hot day
Do not use toothpaste to clean aligners as it can make them cloudy and brittle
Do not use boiling water to clean aligner
What should I expect?
When a new aligner has been placed there will be an initial ache as the teeth start moving. Initial irritation from the attachments or edges of the aligners can occur as the teeth start straightening.
How long should I wear each aligner?
Aligners should be worn for a minimum of 2 weeks before changing to the next set, unless otherwise instructed by the doctor. Your aligners must be worn for 22 hours a day to help the aligners to express the movements fully. Only remove your aligners to eat, brush and floss your teeth. Please use chewies each time you place the aligners in your mouth for the duration of treatment, this will help the aligner to seat fully each time. Make sure the aligner is fitting up to the edge of your tooth every time it is placed in your mouth. If it is not fitting well contact the practice and we will advise you appropriately. The outcome will be dependent on wearing the aligners as instructed.
How do I know when I’m ready to change to a new aligner?
Every aligner should be worn for a minimum of 7 days (even if they feel passive before this please do not move to the next aligner). You will know you are ready to move to the next aligner when the aligner is completely flush with all of the teeth and the aligner feels loose – both of these need to be the case before moving onto the next aligner.
How can I avoid damaging the aligners?
Be careful not to leave your aligners in the sun or car on a hot day, and never place your aligners In hot or boiling water to clean or sterilize them.
Are there any foods I should avoid?
One of the main advantages to Invisalign is that you can eat foods that you cannot with a fixed brace, however try your best to not drink sugary or fizzy drinks through the duration of your brace treatment, this can cause decalcification on your tooth surface which shows as white permanent marks.
How often should I brush my teeth?
Please brush your teeth 3 times a day to practice excellent oral hygiene, Brush your aligners 2 times a day to help keep them clean, you can soak them in the cleaning crystals or retainer brite for a deep clean once a week.
Will I experience pain with aligners?
We recommend that you start every new set of aligners before bed, if you experience any ache when a new aligner is placed or discomfort the next day please take pain relief such as paracetamol or a pain relief that you would have if you experienced a head ache.
Smooth any sharp or irritating edges with a fine nail file this rubbing will be whilst your mouth is adjusting to the aligners.
