Caring For Your Clear Aligners

Clear aligners only work when they are in your mouth. Wear them 20 to 22 hours a day, take them out for meals and drinks (other than water), and keep them clean – the cleaner the aligner, the cleaner your teeth underneath.

Quick reference

• Aim for 20 to 22 hours of wear per day. Less than that and your teeth slow down or stop moving.
• Take the aligners out for every meal and any drink that is not plain water. Coffee, juice, and pop will stain the aligners and your teeth.
• Brush and floss before putting the aligners back in. Trapped food and sugar against your enamel for 20 hours straight is a fast way to cause decay.
• Rinse the aligners under cool water every time you take them out. Brush them gently with a soft brush and a tiny amount of soap or denture cleaner – never hot water (it warps the plastic) and never regular toothpaste (it scratches).
• Keep your case with you. Aligners wrapped in a napkin almost always end up in the trash.
• Switch to the next tray on the schedule we gave you. If a tray will not fully seat, you may need to stay on the current one a few more days – call us if you are unsure.