Invisalign continues to gain popularity as an alternative to traditional braces because the clear plastic trays are less intrusive than traditional braces. They’re removable, making it easier to enjoy meals and clean your teeth. Plus, they’re more visually discreet than bulky metal brackets.
However, you must wear Invisalign for 22 hours daily to prevent your teeth from reverting to their previous positions. You might worry about meeting this goal if you struggle with time management or are somewhat absent-minded. Continue reading to learn more about three helpful hints that might help!
Timely Tip #1: Make a Plan
There are 24 hours in a day, so if you wear your trays for the prescribed 22 hours, that gives you two aligner-free hours daily. This is necessary because you must remove your Invisalign to complete basic tasks, like eating food and brushing and flossing your teeth. If you’re not careful, you might mismanage the available minutes. For example, if you spend an hour eating dinner, that leaves only 60 minutes to eat breakfast and lunch and complete your twice-daily dental hygiene routine.
You can make it easier on yourself by budgeting your hours as needed so you have ample time to get everything done. Establish how long you want to spend on each meal and cleaning in advance, and then stick to your plan to stay on track.
Timely Tip #2: Use an App
If you have a smartphone or tablet and feel comfortable using apps, you can find downloadable programs to help you reach the 22-hour goal. TrayMinder is a popular choice that helps you track how long you wear your aligners daily to get the best possible results. It features a start and pause timer to record exactly how long you wear them and how long they’re removed. You can even set notifications to remind you to reinsert your trays and calendar notes for doctor visits, switching to a new pair, or any other significant dates.
Timely Tip #3: Multi-Task
You can capitalize on the time you aren’t wearing trays by completing multiple tasks simultaneously. One popular way to do this is to place them in a glass of warm water with Invisalign cleaning crystals during dinner. You’ll have to remove them to eat anyway, and you can multitask by placing them in a special soaking solution that can eradicate up to 99% of plaque-inducing bacteria while you eat.
If you’re still struggling to wear your Invisalign for 22 hours every day, you can ask your dentist for insight. They may have other helpful ideas that you haven’t considered yet!
About the Practice
At Lake Nona Dental Group, you benefit from a team of dentists with 20+ years of combined experience helping people attain their healthiest, most beautiful smiles. They work together to offer a full array of high-end services to meet all your needs from two convenient locations, so help is never too far away. They are members of prestigious organizations, like the American Dental Association, and are committed to ongoing education to stay on top of the latest advancements in technology and techniques. If you want a straighter smile, you can request a consultation on the website or call (407) 277-1779.
