Invisalign wear & care
Invisalign wear & care guide
Your day-to-day guide to wearing, changing, eating with and cleaning your Invisalign aligners, so treatment stays on track.
Wearing your aligners
Consistent wear time is the single biggest factor in keeping treatment on schedule.
Daily wear habits
- Wear your aligners 20 to 22 hours a day, removing them only for meals, brushing and cleaning.
- If you forget and leave them out for more than two hours, extend your current set by one full day before changing to the next.
- Use chewies daily: bite down gently for two to three seconds and move side to side, at least three times a day, each time you re-seat the aligner.
- Aligners should sit snugly, with no visible gaps between the teeth and the plastic.
Changing aligners
Move through your sets in order. Do not skip or rush ahead, even if one feels loose.
How to switch sets
- Check that your current aligner still fits properly, with no air gaps or looseness.
- Change to the next set on the date written on your packaging, or as your dentist directs, usually every 7 to 10 days.
- Make the switch at night, so you sleep through the first, slightly sore hours.
- Store the used aligner in its bag or case. Do not throw it away, you may need a previous set if an issue comes up.
Eating and drinking
At meals and drinks
- Remove your aligners before eating, to prevent stains, cracks and warping.
- While wearing aligners, drink only water.
- Avoid hot drinks such as coffee and tea with aligners in, heat can distort the plastic.
- Do not smoke with aligners on.
- When they are out, always put aligners in their case, never wrapped in a tissue or napkin, which is how they get thrown away.
Cleaning and hygiene
Keeping aligners clear
- Brush your aligners twice a day with a soft toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste, avoiding whitening pastes.
- Rinse your aligners and your mouth after meals before putting them back in.
- Clean your aligners with retainer-cleaning tablets, such as Retainer Brite, or Invisalign cleaning crystals, two to three times a week.
- Do not clean with hot water, Dettol or household cleaners, these can damage or discolour the aligners.
- Keep aligners away from pets, they will happily chew them.
Lost or broken aligners
If an aligner is lost or broken, contact us before changing anything, so we can check where you are in your sequence.
Keep your last 3 to 5 sets as backups, so you have a recent aligner to fall back on in an emergency.
What we may advise
- Go back to your previous aligner.
- Move to your next aligner and wear it for a few extra days to keep your teeth tracking.
After an extraction
If a tooth has been taken out as part of your treatment, you can usually start wearing your aligners the next day, or as soon as it feels comfortable, and at least overnight to hold the space. Keep the extraction site and your aligners clean while it heals.
Hiding an extraction gap
- Place organic cotton in the gap as a temporary fill.
- Use a DIY aligner pontic bought online (for example, from Amazon).
- Ask us about a custom aligner pontic for a more natural look, which suits longer cases or implant spaces.
When to call us
Some situations are worth a quick call before you carry on with your sets.
Call us if
- An attachment comes off a tooth.
- An aligner does not fit, or still shows gaps after using chewies.
- You lose or damage an aligner.
- You are unsure whether to move to your next set or go back to the previous one.
Questions & answers
Invisalign wear & care: common questions
What happens if I don't wear my aligners enough?
Invisalign only works when the aligners are in, so falling short of 20 to 22 hours a day slows your progress and can mean the aligners stop fitting properly (going 'off track'), which may require refinements or a longer treatment. If you have left a set out for more than about two hours in a day, wear that set for an extra full day before moving on, to let the teeth catch up. If you have missed a lot of wear, do not jump ahead, contact us and we will check the fit and tell you what to do. Building the aligners into a daily routine is the easiest way to stay on schedule.
Can I drink coffee or tea with my aligners in?
It is best not to. Hot drinks can soften and distort the plastic, and dark drinks like coffee, tea, cola and red wine can stain the aligners, so the safest habit is to take the aligners out for any drink other than plain water, then rinse your mouth and the aligners before putting them back in. Cold water is fine with aligners in. If you do have a hot drink with them in by accident, check afterwards that they still fit snugly with no warping, and let us know if anything seems off.
How do I clean my aligners without damaging them?
Brush them gently twice a day with a soft toothbrush and a non-abrasive (non-whitening) toothpaste, rinse them after meals, and a few times a week soak them using retainer-cleaning tablets or Invisalign cleaning crystals to keep them clear and fresh. Use only cool or lukewarm water, never hot, and avoid mouthwash, alcohol, Dettol or household cleaners, which can cloud or damage the plastic. Store them dry in their case when not in use. If an aligner cracks or no longer fits, go back to the previous well-fitting set and contact us.
What should I do if I lose or break an aligner?
Contact us before changing anything, so we can check where you are in your aligner sequence. Depending on your progress, we may ask you to go back to your previous set, or to move to the next set and wear it for a few extra days to keep your teeth tracking. This is why it helps to keep your last 3 to 5 sets: they give you a recent aligner to fall back on if one is lost or damaged.
Can I wear my aligners after a tooth extraction?
Usually yes. You can often start the next day, or as soon as it feels comfortable, and wearing them at least overnight helps hold the space while the area heals. Keep both the extraction site and your aligners clean. If the gap is visible, you can fill it temporarily with organic cotton, use a DIY aligner pontic, or ask us about a custom pontic for a more natural look, which suits longer cases or implant spaces.
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