Patient Guide for Invisalign® (Clear Aligners)

Q: Can I just wear my aligners at night?

No. To work properly, the aligners need to apply gentle, constant pressure. Wearing them for less than the recommended 22 hours a day will stop your teeth from tracking correctly and will significantly delay or compromise your treatment results.

Q: What happens if I forget to brush after eating and put my aligners back in?

Doing this occasionally is not a disaster, but making it a habit is very risky. It traps plaque, sugar, and acid directly against your teeth for hours, which is a perfect recipe for creating cavities.

Q: Will my treatment finish exactly on the date you estimated?

The estimate is based on perfect compliance. The final treatment time depends on how consistently you wear your aligners and whether a “refinement” stage is needed to achieve the ideal result. Our goal is the best possible smile, not just the fastest one.

Q: Do I really have to wear retainers for the rest of my life?

Yes. Think of retention as the essential final phase of your orthodontic treatment. Teeth have a natural tendency to shift throughout your life. Faithfully wearing your retainer as instructed is a simple, lifelong commitment to protect the beautiful result you have achieved.

Orthodontic Care Instructions

Daily Care & Hygiene

Your success with Invisalign is a partnership between you and our office. Your commitment to these daily instructions is the key to achieving an ideal result.

Wear Time: The #1 Rule

You must wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day.
The aligners should only be removed when you are eating or cleaning your teeth.

Diet, Drinks, and Aligner Care

Drinks: You must avoid drinking anything other than cool water while your aligners are in. Sugary or acidic drinks get trapped under your aligners, which can rapidly cause cavities. Coffee, tea, and red wine will permanently stain your aligners.
Brush After Every Meal: After eating, you must brush and floss your teeth thoroughly before reinserting your aligners. Trapping food particles can lead to tooth decay and gum inflammation.
Clean Your Aligners Daily: Gently brush them with a soft toothbrush and mild dish soap (like Dawn), then rinse with cool water. Never use hot water, as it can warp and ruin the plastic.

The Treatment Journey: What to Expect

“Slenderizing” (IPR): To create the necessary space for your teeth to move, we may need to perform Interproximal Reduction (IPR). This involves gently polishing tiny amounts of enamel from between your teeth. It is a precise, painless procedure that does not harm your teeth.
“Refinements”: It is very common to need a “refinement” stage near the end of your treatment. This involves taking a new scan of your teeth to create a few additional aligners to perfect the final details. This is a normal part of the process to ensure the best possible result.

Life After Aligners: Retention is a Lifelong Commitment

Teeth have a natural tendency to shift throughout your life. To prevent this “orthodontic relapse,” you must wear a retainer as instructed. This phase is just as important as the active tooth movement.
We will provide you with either a removable clear retainer (typically worn only at night) or a permanent retainer (a thin wire bonded behind your front teeth). Faithfully wearing your retainer is the only way to maintain your new smile for the long term.

Managing Discomfort

It is normal to feel some pressure or discomfort for the first couple of days with each new set of aligners.

Pressure is Normal: The aligners work by putting gentle, consistent pressure on your teeth. This may feel like a snug tightness or mild tenderness. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Advil can be used as needed.
Listen to Your Teeth: If a new aligner feels particularly tight or painful, you can switch back to your previous tray for a day, or simply wear your current tray for a few extra days before moving on to the next one. The goal is consistent, comfortable pressure, not a race to the finish.
Attachments (“Buttons”): The small, tooth-colored bumps bonded to your teeth are essential for helping the aligners grip and move your teeth effectively. They may irritate your cheeks or lips initially. You can use a small amount of orthodontic wax over any rough spots for comfort.
Monitoring Gum Health: Moving teeth can sometimes lead to gum recession (when the gums pull away from the tooth). Excellent brushing and flossing are the best ways to keep your gums healthy. We will monitor your gum levels very closely at every appointment.

Foods To Avoid (Braces)

Great news! One of the biggest advantages of Invisalign treatment is that there are no food restrictions.

Because you remove your aligners every time you eat, you can continue to enjoy all your favorite foods without worrying about breaking a bracket or wire.
Just remember the most important rule: you must brush and floss thoroughly after eating before putting your aligners back in!

Handling Emergencies

While true emergencies are rare, here’s what to do if you run into a common issue.

Keep Your Old Trays! This is the most important tip. Always keep the last two sets of aligners you have finished wearing. Do not throw them away. They are your best backup plan.
If you lose or break an aligner: Call our office immediately for instructions. We will likely have you go back to wearing your most recently completed tray to prevent your teeth from shifting backward while we order a replacement.
If you lose an attachment: This is not a major emergency, but please call the office to let us know. We will determine if you need to come in to have it replaced before your next scheduled visit.
If an aligner isn’t fitting well: Make sure the aligner is fully seated on your teeth. You can use an “aligner chewie” (a small, soft plastic roll) to bite down on for a few minutes. This helps the aligner fully engage with your teeth and attachments.