How many hours a day should they be worn?
Clear aligners should be worn 20–22 hours a day. They come out only for eating, for drinking anything other than water, and for brushing. While the aligners are out of the mouth, the teeth are free of the force the aligner applies; frequent and long removal delays the teeth's progress against the plan and can make the next aligner harder to fit.
A practical approach: keeping the number and length of meals limited and cutting down on snacks makes it easier to keep up the wear time.
How are aligners put in and taken out?
- To put an aligner in, place it starting from the front teeth, then press it into place towards the back teeth with your fingertips. Do not try to bite it into place.
- To take it out, gently release the aligner starting from the inner side of a back tooth, then work towards the other side and the front.
- Do not use sharp or metal objects to remove the aligner.
Food and drink
Aligners must always be taken out for eating. With the aligners in, only plain water is recommended. Points to note for other drinks:
| Drink | With aligners in | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Plain water | Fine | No harm to the aligners or teeth. |
| Tea, coffee | Not recommended | Can stain the aligners; if sweetened, raises the risk of decay. Hot drinks can distort the aligner. |
| Fruit juice, fizzy drinks | Not recommended | Sugar and acid trapped between aligner and tooth can damage the enamel. |
You can have these drinks with the aligners out, then rinse your mouth, brush your teeth if possible and put the aligners back in.
Cleaning the aligners
- Morning and evening, rinse the aligners with lukewarm water and clean them gently with a soft brush.
- Do not use hot water; aligners are sensitive to heat and can lose their shape.
- Abrasive toothpastes can dull the aligner surface. Unscented, colourless liquid soap or cleaning products recommended by your dentist can be used.
- Rinsing the aligners before they dry after taking them out stops saliva residue from hardening.
Caring for teeth and gums
Because aligners cover the teeth, food debris and bacterial plaque trapped between aligner and tooth raise the risk of decay and gum inflammation. Therefore:
- Brush your teeth after every meal, or at least rinse your mouth thoroughly.
- Use floss or an interdental brush at least once a day.
- Keep up regular dental check-ups and scale-and-polish appointments.
The first days: pressure and speech
A feeling of pressure or tenderness for 1–3 days with each new aligner is normal. Switching to a new aligner in the evening before bed lets you sleep through those first hours. In the first days there may be a slight lisp on some sounds; it usually passes within a few days.
If the edge of an aligner irritates your tongue or cheek, do not try to cut or file it yourself; let the clinic know. For detailed solutions, see the clear aligner problems page.
Storage and avoiding loss
Most lost aligners are wrapped in a napkin during a meal and forgotten. Always put your aligners in their case when you take them out. Do not leave them where pets can reach them, in a hot car or in direct sunlight.
When travelling
- Take your aligner case, the aligner before the one you are wearing and your toothbrush with you.
- If you are planning a long trip, discuss the schedule for your upcoming aligners with your dentist in advance.
- You can wear your aligners on flights; remember to drink water.
If an aligner is lost or broken
Let the clinic know as soon as possible. Depending on the situation, your dentist may recommend going back to the previous aligner, moving on to the next one or having a new aligner made. Until a decision is made, keeping an aligner in your mouth if possible stops the teeth from shifting back.