Are you ready to kiss your crooked teeth goodbye once and for all? Do you feel like you’re too old to wear braces? If you think braces would be a poor fit, you may be happier with Invisalign aligners from Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL. Today, our orthodontic experts are taking a closer look at this tooth straightening treatment, including how many hours per day you should keep your aligners in.
Is 20 Hours a Day Enough for Invisalign Aligners?
As a general rule of thumb, 20 hours a day is not enough for Invisalign aligners. To see your ideal results as quickly as possible, you need to wear your aligners as often as possible. However, there are certain circumstances under which your aligners need to be removed. For example, you cannot wear your aligners when you eat, play contact sports, or drink certain things. Keep in mind that, ideally, you should wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day.
Only you can decide whether taking your aligners out to play a contact sport, have a snack, or indulge in your favorite beverage is worth your treatment taking longer. It is possible for Invisalign treatments to take only six months for simple cases when aligners are worn for 22 hours per day. However, the average treatment takes between 12 and 18 months under ideal circumstances, and complex cases can take over two years to correct fully.
What Can I Drink With My Aligners In?
You can keep your aligners in when you drink cool water. However, if you drink iced tea, cold juice, or hot coffee, your aligners must come out first. To ensure you see your final results as quickly as possible, minimize your consumption of beverages other than cool water.
Is It Okay To Snack During My Treatment?
There is nothing inherently wrong with snacking during your Invisalign treatment. However, you should do your best to keep your snacking to a minimum because you need to brush and floss your teeth 30 minutes after you finish eating. During this 30 minutes following your snack and preceding your oral hygiene routine, you should not wear your Invisalign aligners.
It is very important that you brush and floss your teeth thoroughly once you’re done eating, even if you only have a snack. It is possible for plaque to develop on your teeth or along your gum line when you eat, and it is also possible for food to get stuck on your teeth. Brushing and flossing thoroughly after every time you eat ensures nothing gets stuck between your teeth and gum line and your trays.
What Could Happen Should I Fail To Brush and Floss Thoroughly?
If you fail to brush and floss thoroughly after eating, food particles could get stuck between your teeth and trays. In turn, this could lead to such oral health problems as tooth decay, cavities, and infections. As frustrating as it may be to brush and floss your teeth just because you wanted a cheese stick, it is much more convenient to spend five minutes cleaning your mouth than having to get a cavity filled.
Are There Any Dietary Restrictions I Need To Adhere to During My Treatment?
No, there are no dietary restrictions you must adhere to during your treatment. While there are several foods you must avoid when you have braces, there are no such restrictions with Invisalign treatments because you take your trays out before eating. However, you should avoid smoking during your treatment.
What Should I Do With My Aligners When They’re Out?
When you’re not wearing your aligners, you should store them in a clean cup filled with clean, cold water. Twice per day, you need to clean them while they are out. Usually, people clean their aligners after breakfast and after dinner so they don’t forget. If you don’t eat breakfast and work from home, you can incorporate your aligner cleaning into your morning routine or clean them after lunch and dinner.
How Should I Clean My Aligners?
Cleaning your aligners is similar to brushing your teeth. The first step you must take to clean them is to soak them in Invisalign cleaning crystals or a denture cleaner. Typically, people soak their aligners in the cleaner while they are eating and during the 30 minutes following their meal.
Once you have finished soaking your aligners in the cleaner, you should brush food particles and plaque from the aligners with a clean spare toothbrush. Keep in mind, you should never use mouthwash to soak your trays; if you do, the aligners could be damaged. It is also important to never soak your trays in hot water because high temperatures can warp the trays, affecting the efficacy of your treatment.
Learn More About Invisalign Today
If possible, you should keep your Invisalign aligners in for at least 22 hours per day. However, if you eat three meals per day, snack, and play contact sports regularly, you may only end up wearing your aligners 20 hours daily. Your treatment will still be effective, but it will take you longer to see your desired results. For more Invisalign information, contact us today at Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL to schedule an initial evaluation.
