Caring for Your Invisalign Aligners

Daily Care Guidelines

• Insert each aligner with your fingers rather than your teeth. Start by fitting it over your front teeth, then press gently along your back teeth until the aligner is fully seated. A correctly seated aligner rests completely against the tooth surface with no gap visible between the aligner edge and the top of the teeth. Expect a snug feeling when a new aligner is first worn, with a more comfortable fit developing by the end of its two week wear cycle.
• Leave your aligners in place throughout the day and night, taking them out only to brush, floss, or eat. Removing them before drinking hot beverages like coffee or tea is also recommended.
• To take an aligner out, loosen both sides near your back teeth at the same time before lifting it away from your front teeth. Store aligners in the provided case whenever they are out of your mouth.
• Brush your aligners with toothpaste and a toothbrush to keep them clean.
• Plan to wear each aligner set for a two week stretch unless our team advises a different timeline for you.
• Progress through your aligners in the numbered sequence provided. Each tray carries a number along with a U or an L marking to show whether it belongs on the upper or lower arch.
• Hold onto every aligner you’ve already completed and bring the full set with you to future orthodontic visits.

Practices to Avoid

• Avoid setting your aligners on a napkin or tissue. This is a common way that aligners end up accidentally tossed in the trash.
• Never bite down to force an aligner into position.
• Pet owners should keep aligners well out of reach of animals in the home. The scent of saliva can draw pets to chew on Invisalign trays.
• Skip denture cleaners, alcohol, and bleach when cleaning your trays.
• Avoid rinsing or soaking aligners in boiling or warm water.
• Take your aligners out before chewing gum.
• Refrain from smoking while your aligners are in, since smoke exposure can discolor both the trays and your teeth.

If a Problem Comes Up

• Should the attachment bonded to your tooth that helps the aligner click into place come off, contact our office as soon as possible. We can then decide whether an earlier visit is necessary before your next scheduled appointment.
• If an aligner tray goes missing, move on to the next tray in your sequence if it’s available. Without access to the next tray, go back to wearing the previous one instead. Continuing to wear a tray of some kind is essential for preventing your teeth from moving out of position. Notify our office about which tray was lost so we can evaluate whether a replacement is necessary, noting that a fee applies if a replacement tray is needed.