At first, having between two and four hours each day aligner-free sounds like more than enough. Once you start calculating the time you need for three meals, some snacks, and your oral hygiene regimen, however, you’ll quickly realize that’s not much time at all! The good news is that there are a few simple steps you can take to meet your 22-hour wear time with Invisalign with ease. Read on to learn what they are!
Why Wearing Your Aligners Is Important
Before getting into the tips, it’s important to cover why wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours a day is so important. Basically, your entire treatment plan is created with the guidelines in mind, including the daily wear time. So, if you don’t wear your trays consistently, there’s a good chance you’ll fall off-track with your treatment plan, resulting in considerable delays and even added costs. In other words, the best way to get the results you desire quickly and preserve your investment is to wear your aligners for the recommended amount of time every day.
5 Tips for Meeting the Wear Time
A great way to track your wear time is to use the stopwatch on your phone. If you’re finding it difficult to meet the 20-22 hour-a-day mark, then try the following:
- Creating a schedule, like setting aside 30 minutes for each meal and a snack.
- Soaking your aligners in the cleaning crystals during mealtimes.
- Drinking your coffee with breakfast.
- Brushing and flossing your teeth immediately after you’re done eating.
- Moving onto your next set of trays in the series directly before bed.
Bonus Tip: Create an On-the-Go Dental Hygiene Kit
Completing your oral hygiene regimen at home is pretty easy, but what if you normally eat breakfast in your car on the way to work, you have lunch dates with clients, or you enjoy grabbing dinner and drinks with friends during the week? In that case, create an on-the-go dental hygiene kit filled with travel-sized essentials like a toothbrush, floss, and mouthwash. That way, you can easily clean your teeth and trays from wherever you are!
About the Practice
At Ridgepointe Dental, we have an exceptional dentist, Dr. Amos, as well as a phenomenal team. We all share the goal of helping each patient have the healthiest, happiest smile, and we accomplish this goal by offering a wide variety of services and customized treatment plans. If you are interested in learning more about how we can make your dream smile a reality, schedule a consultation with us via our website or by phone at (972) 625-4746.