Wear Time
Aligners must be worn 20-22 hours per day. Remove them only for eating, drinking anything other than plain water, and oral hygiene. Every hour out of the mouth is lost progress.
Inserting Your Aligners
Always wash your hands before handling aligners.
- Confirm you have the correct aligner (marked "U" upper, "L" lower) and the correct step number
- Align the front teeth first, then press back near the molars until it snaps firmly into place
- Never bite your aligners in — this causes cracking
Removing Your Aligners
- Start on one side at the back molars, gently prying away
- Repeat on the opposite side
- Pull away from the front teeth last
- Rinse before placing in the case
Cleaning & Storage
Clean aligners with a soft-bristle toothbrush and clear (non-whitening) toothpaste or Invisalign® cleaning crystals. Rinse with lukewarm water only — hot water warps the plastic.
When not in your mouth, always store in the protective case. Wrapped in a napkin is how aligners end up in the trash.
Oral Hygiene
Brush and floss after every meal before reinserting aligners. Food trapped under an aligner dramatically accelerates cavities.
What to Expect
New aligners typically cause mild soreness for 2-3 days — this indicates your teeth are moving. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed if needed. Speech may sound slightly different with new aligners but normalizes quickly.