Congratulations on starting your Invisalign treatment and your journey to a more confident smile.
Please read these instructions carefully and keep this handout for reference.
Wear your aligners 22 hours every day.
Only remove them to:
– Eat
– Drink anything other than water
– Brush and floss your teeth
Your aligners only work when they are in your mouth. Taking them out too often can slow your treatment and allow your teeth to move back slightly.
Adjustment period
For the first few days, you may notice:
– More saliva
– A slight lisp
This is normal and usually improves as you get used to the aligners.
Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your aligners.
Each aligner is marked with:
– “U” for upper teeth or “L” for lower teeth
– A stage number (which step of treatment you are on)
To insert your aligner:
– Gently push the aligner over your front teeth first.
– Then use your fingertips to apply gentle pressure over your back teeth (molars) until the aligner snaps into place.
Attachments and chewies (if used): (cotton rolls)
– Attachments are small, clear bumps on certain teeth that help the aligners move your teeth.
– Check your attachments every day. If one is chipped, broken, or missing, contact the office right away.
– Your doctor may give you “chewies” to help seat the aligners fully on your teeth.
Remove your aligners before:
– Eating any food
– Drinking anything other than cool water
Drinking sugary or acidic drinks with your aligners in can:
– Change the acid balance (pH) in your mouth
– Increase the risk of tooth damage
– Stain your aligners
After meals or drinks:
– Ideally, brush and floss before putting your aligners back in.
If you cannot brush:
– Rinse your mouth with water
– Rinse your aligners under warm running water before wearing them again
Clean your aligners each time before you put them in.
Use:
– A soft-bristle toothbrush
– Low abrasive toothpaste
– Water
Gently brush inside and outside of each aligner.
Your starter kit may include:
– Cleaning crystals
– An aligner case
– A printed use and care document from Invisalign. (Please read that document carefully and follow the instructions as well.)
Whenever your aligners are not in your mouth, put them in their protective case.
Do not place them:
– In a napkin
– On a table or tray
– Loose in a pocket or bag
This helps prevent loss, damage, or throwing them away by accident.
If you lose or break an aligner:
Contact your doctor immediately for instructions.
Consistent wear is the key to a successful result.
Some teen aligners have blue wear indicators that help your doctor see how long they’ve been worn.
Your doctor may also ask you to use the My Invisalign mobile app to:
– Track how many hours per day you wear your aligners
– Help you stay on schedule
If you have:
– Pain that seems unusual for new aligners• A damaged or missing attachment
– Lost or broken aligners
– Any other concerns
Please contact your dental office as soon as possible.
We’re Here if You Need Us
Starting Invisalign comes with a learning curve, especially during the first few days. Mild pressure, extra saliva, or slight speech changes are all common during the adjustment period.
If something feels uncomfortable, confusing, or unexpected, please contact our office. We’d rather answer a small question early than have you worry through treatment alone.