One of the most important rules of Invisalign treatment is meeting the recommended 22 hours of wear time per day. It’s not just a suggestion; it’s essential to ensure your teeth move as planned and you stay on track with your treatment. But life can be busy, and it’s easy to underestimate how much time your aligners spend out of your mouth. So how do you make sure you’re hitting that 22-hour goal every day? Here are some practical tips to help you stick to your Invisalign wear schedule and maximize your results.
Time Your Meals
Eating is the number one reason people remove their aligners, and rightfully so, since Invisalign should be taken out while eating or drinking anything besides water. However, if you tend to snack throughout the day or take long meal breaks, it can add up quickly.
Try to consolidate your eating times to three main meals and maybe one snack. Keep each meal under 30 to 40 minutes when possible. If you take an hour for each meal, that already uses up three of your two allowed “off” hours.
Set a timer on your phone when you take your aligners out to help keep track of how long they’re out.
Brush and Rinse Efficiently
Since you need to brush and floss after every meal before putting your aligners back in, it’s tempting to delay popping them back in, especially if you’re in a rush or not near a bathroom. Keep a travel toothbrush kit with you so you can clean your teeth and aligners wherever you are. The quicker you clean up, the quicker they go back in.
Track Your Wear Time
It’s easy to overestimate how long your aligners are in. Use an Invisalign tracking app (like the My Invisalign app) or a regular stopwatch/timer to monitor your daily wear time. This helps you stay accountable and make up time if you’ve fallen behind during the day.
Avoid Unnecessary Removal
A lot of people take out their aligners for things they don’t really need to, like sipping coffee or nibbling on something small. Unless it’s water, it’s best to remove the aligners only when necessary and get them back in right after.
Skip frequent coffee breaks or switch to iced coffee with a straw to reduce time without aligners (if approved by your orthodontist).
Make It a Habit
The more consistent you are, the more Invisalign becomes part of your daily routine. Think of your aligners like contact lenses – you wouldn’t take them out during the day for no reason, and the same should go for your trays.
Meeting your 22-hour wear time with Invisalign may take a bit of discipline at first, but once you create good habits, it becomes second nature. The more closely you stick to the schedule, the faster and more effective your treatment will be. Remember, every hour counts, so keep those aligners in and stay focused on your smile transformation!
About the Practice
Ready to straighten out your smile? Here at Wigal Orthodontics, we provide Invisalign treatment to makeover your look with discreet, clear aligners. Our highly skilled orthodontists, Drs. Timothy Wigal and Alex Kluemper, run a family-owned business focused on relationships and personalized treatment plans for patients of all ages. Schedule your appointment today online or visit one of our conveniently located offices in the Columbus, Heath, and Mt. Vernon areas.