Invisalign Post-Insertion Instructions

What You Should Do After Receiving Your Invisalign Trays

Invisalign is a tooth movement appliance that uses a series of nearly invisible, medical-grade plastic trays that are custom fitted to your teeth. Each tray is slightly different from the one before it, moving your teeth closer and closer to the desired final position. After receiving your first Invisalign trays, it is important to follow these post-visit instructions to ensure successful treatment.

If you have not had your Invisalign clear aligner scan appointment yet, please read our pre-visit instructions.

Attachments

• Attachments are the tooth colored buttons made of composite resin and are bonded to your teeth. Each attachment is a special geometrical shape designed by our doctors. They help move teeth to their perfect end position. 
• Attachments can sometimes pop off, but this is rare. Pay attention to the attachments on your teeth and if any of them fall off. If this happens, we can easily replace the attachment. Just contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Aligner Insertion

• Align the tray over the corresponding teeth. Then gently push the aligner over your front teeth then apply equal pressure in the back molar areas to push the aligner into place.

• Do not bite your aligners into position. This may damage them if not properly oriented.

Aligner Removal

• Use your fingertips to pull down on the inside (towards the palate or tongue) of your right and left back molars and then slowly pull the aligner off of your molars. Next you will grab the right and left back ends of the aligner and slowly work your way forward gently prying the aligner away from your front teeth.

• Your dentist may have provided you with a Clear Aligner Removal Tool to make aligner removal easier. 

How Often Should I Be Wearing My Invisalign Trays?

• Aligners need to be worn ALL THE TIME in order to effectively move teeth. They should only be removed when eating or cleaning your teeth. Patients who wear their aligners full time finish treatment faster and have better outcomes!

Oral Hygiene

• Cleaning your Clear Aligner Trays: Please be reminded that the only times you should be removing your Invisalign clear aligner trays are when you are eating or brushing your teeth. It is important to keep your Invisalign clear aligner trays clean to prevent bacteria buildup and odors. To clean your Invisalign clear aligner trays, rinse them under cold water. You may brush them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush (separate from your normal brush), rinse again, before putting them back in your mouth. Avoid eating or drinking anything other than water while wearing them to prevent staining. Alternatively, you clean it using an ultrasonic cleaner, such as the Debatlog Ultrasonic Cleaner in a Polident Daily Denture Cleaner solution.
• Brush At Least Twice A Day: Clear aligner treatment can make oral hygiene more difficult. Conventional wisdom says that you should brush at least twice a day; once in the morning and once before you go to bed. Two times a day is a good rule of thumb. But ideally, you should brush right after a meal. This is to maximize the amount of time your teeth stay clean between meals.
• When You Cannot Brush Your Teeth, Rinse With Water Or Mouthwash: It is sometimes not practical to be brushing after every meal. You may be busy at work or at school during your day and cannot find time to brush or floss. If this is the case, at least rinse with water or mouthwash to get as much food debris and taste out of your mouth. One brand that we highly recommend is Colgate Total 12HR Pro-Shield CPC Mouthwash.
• Consider Upgrading Your Toothbrush: Ensure you are using a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your teeth, as they are gentler on enamel and less likely to cause damage or irritation to gum tissue. One brand of toothbrush that we highly recommend is the Curaprox CS5460 Ultra Soft Swiss Toothbrush. Also consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush, which can be more effective at removing plaque and bacteria on teeth and gums. One brand of electric toothbrush that we highly recommend is the Philips Sonicare Protectiveclean 6100.
• Floss Daily: Flossing is critical to remove plaque and food particles that may accumulate around teeth and gums. Ideally you should be flossing every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. We recommend GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss. If you have difficulty using regular string floss, consider using dental flossers (such as Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers) or interdental brushes (GUM Proxabrush) to clean the space between your teeth.
• Buy A Water Flosser: We highly recommend you purchase a Water Flosser and to use it daily in addition to regular flossing; the Water Flosser will flush out debris missed by floss and toothbrush. Ideally you should be water flossing every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. One brand that we highly recommend is the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser 
• Use An All-Encompassing Antibacterial Mouthwash Daily: Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash specially formulated for cavity prevention, gum care and fresh breath daily. Ideally you should be rinsing with mouthwash every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. One brand that we highly recommend is Colgate Total 12HR Pro-Shield CPC Mouthwash.
• Use An All-Encompassing Toothpaste: Be sure to use a toothpaste that has fluoride to prevent cavities and promote gum health. One brand that we highly recommend is the Colgate Total Advanced Professional Clean Toothpaste.

Diet

• Do not eat or drink sugary/acidic beverages with your aligners in place. Food and beverages can become trapped under your aligners and cause tooth decay and gingivitis.
• Colored beverages can stain your aligners. Drinking room temperature or cold drinks with your aligners is perfectly safe! Do not drink warm or hot drinks with your aligners as this could cause distortions in the aligner plastic.
• After you eat or drink we recommend brushing your teeth before replacing your aligners. If you do not have time or access to brush, please rinse your mouth with water to remove food debris then brush when you get home.
• When eating or drinking please store your aligners safely in your Invisalign case.

Tracking

• Tracking means that your teeth are fitting perfectly into your aligners. Do not change your aligners until all teeth are tracking perfectly. There should be zero “air space” between the edges of your teeth and the aligner. If there is an air space, please wear the aligner for a longer period of time until it fits. We do not recommend progressing forward into new aligners unless you are tracking perfectly. If you have worn an aligner for 2 weeks and it still does not track, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

Changing Your Trays

• Please wear each aligner set for the prescribed number of days; this can range from 1 to 2 weeks. You will change into a new aligner set on the same day each week. The date of aligner change will be written on the aligner pouch. 
• If you experience tracking issues please stay in your current aligners until they fit perfectly.
• Always keep your most recent aligner set as a backup.

What If I Lose An Aligner?

• Lost an aligner? Life happens… no worries! If you are nearing the end of the current aligner period, please move forward to your next aligner set. You may need to wear this set longer (2 weeks) in order for it to track properly.
• If you do not have any future aligners, please go back to wearing your most recent aligner set and contact our office. For example, if we gave you aligners #1-12 and you lose #12 please go back to wearing #11. 

Have Questions?

• If you have any additional questions or concerns about your Invisalign treatment, please contact us.