Complete guide for your invisible orthodontic treatment success. Learn how to care for your aligners and get the best results.

What are clear aligners?

Clear aligners (like Invisalign®) are custom-made removable trays that gradually move your teeth. Unlike traditional braces, you can remove them to eat and brush your teeth.

What are attachments?

They are small tooth-colored resin buttons temporarily bonded to some teeth. They help the aligner make more precise movements. They’re almost invisible and are removed at the end of treatment.

The great advantage of aligners is their discretion and comfort, but they require discipline and commitment on your part to work properly.

The 22-Hour Rule

This is the most important rule of your entire treatment

You must wear your aligners at least 22 hours per day

You only have 2 hours per day for eating and brushing

What happens if I don’t meet the 22 hours?

Teeth don’t move as they should
The next aligner won’t fit properly
Treatment takes longer (extra months)
Additional aligners may be needed (extra cost)
In severe cases, treatment must restart

Tips to meet the 22 hours

Eat at set times, don’t snack
Reduce the time of each meal
Always carry your case with you
Set alarms if you forget to put them back
Don’t remove them “just for a bit” - it adds up

Do the math: 22 hours = 3 meals of 30-40 minutes each. If you remove them longer, you’re not meeting the requirement.

Your Daily Routine with Aligners

Follow these steps every time you eat

1. Remove the aligners: Wash your hands first. Remove from the back teeth forward, carefully to avoid damage.
2. Store in the case: ALWAYS in the case, never in a napkin, pocket, or on the table. This prevents losing them.
3. Eat comfortably: Without aligners you can eat anything. There are no food restrictions.
4. Brush your teeth: Brush well and floss. Don’t put aligners back with food debris.
5. Rinse the aligners: Rinse with cold water before wearing. If possible, clean with neutral soap.
6. Put them back on: Make sure they fit completely. Use ‘chewies’ if provided to seat them properly.

How to Clean Your Aligners

Proper cleaning keeps your aligners clear and your mouth healthy

Daily Cleaning (At least twice)

Rinse with cold water (never hot)
Apply liquid neutral soap without color or fragrance
Use a SOFT bristle brush (different from your toothbrush)
Gently brush inside and outside
Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap
Dry with paper or air dry before storing

Deep Cleaning (1-2 times per week)

Use effervescent tablets made for aligners or retainers. Dissolve in water and soak aligners for 15-20 minutes. This removes bacteria, odors, and light stains.

DON’T use these products

Toothpaste: It’s abrasive, scratches and clouds the plastic
Mouthwash: Can stain and discolor
Hot water: Permanently warps the plastic
Bleach: Damages material and is toxic
Alcohol: Deteriorates and dries the plastic
Baking soda: Abrasive, creates micro scratches

Don’t forget the case

Wash your case at least once a week with water and soap. A dirty case contaminates your clean aligners.

Eating with Aligners

Good news: you can eat anything (with one condition)

Always remove aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water

You Can Eat Everything

Hard foods (apples, carrots)
Sticky foods (gum, candy)
Popcorn
Nuts and dried fruits
Everything you couldn’t with braces

This is a great advantage over braces!

With Aligners On

You can ONLY drink plain water

NEVER with aligners on:

Coffee or tea (stains)
Sodas (acids + sugar)
Juices (acids + sugar)
Alcoholic beverages
Hot drinks (warps)
Colored beverages

Why is this important?

If you eat or drink with aligners, liquids get trapped between the aligner and your teeth. Sugar and acids cause cavities very quickly because there’s no saliva to neutralize them.

Prevent Staining and Yellowing

Keep your aligners truly invisible

Main causes of staining

Coffee and tea
Red wine
Cola drinks
Curry and turmeric
Soy sauce
Smoking

How to prevent them

Remove aligners to consume these substances
Brush your teeth before putting them back
If you can’t brush, at least rinse your mouth
Clean aligners immediately if you notice color
Use effervescent tablets regularly

Already yellow?

If your aligners are already stained, effervescent tablets can help with light stains. For severe stains, you’ll probably need to wait for the next set. Good news is you change aligners every 1-2 weeks.

Changing Aligners

Following your orthodontist’s instructions

How often do you change?

Usually every 1-2 weeks, as indicated by your orthodontist. Follow the exact schedule you were given.

Keep the previous aligner

Always save the previous set in case you lose or damage the current one. You can use it while getting a replacement.

How do I know when to change?

Follow your orthodontist’s schedule
Current aligner should feel ‘loose’ (teeth have moved)
New aligner will feel tight (this is normal)
Never change early even if it feels loose

When starting a new aligner

It’s normal to feel pressure for the first 2-3 days
You can take pain relievers if uncomfortable
Use ‘chewies’ to seat it properly
Fit improves after a few days
If pain is severe or doesn’t fit, contact the clinic

Proper Storage

Avoid loss and damage

ALWAYS in the case

When eating at restaurants
At work or school
During exercise or sports
Any time they’re not in your mouth

NEVER store in:

Napkins: They get thrown away by accident (#1 cause of loss)
Pockets: They warp, break, or get lost
Unprotected bags: They get dirty and damaged
On the table: They get contaminated and can fall

ALWAYS carry your case with you. Place it next to your plate when eating to remember to store them.

Common Problems and Solutions

I lost my aligner (Urgent): Use the PREVIOUS set while contacting the clinic. Never skip to a later one. Schedule an appointment ASAP.
It broke or cracked (Urgent): If it’s a small crack, you can keep using it carefully. If severely damaged, use the previous one and contact the clinic.
New aligner doesn’t fit: First make sure you wore the previous one for 22 hours. Use chewies. If it still doesn’t fit after 2 days, contact the clinic.
Discomfort when wearing: Normal with new aligners (2-3 days). Use pain relievers if needed. If pain is severe or causes sores, contact the clinic.
Attachment fell off: Not urgent but schedule soon. That tooth’s movement may be affected without the attachment.
Bad breath with aligners: Improve your cleaning routine. Brush your teeth AND aligners more frequently. Use effervescent tablets.
Aligners smell bad: Insufficient cleaning. Do a deep clean with effervescent tablets. Make sure to dry them before storing.

How to handle special situations

When traveling

Bring current aligner AND previous one (in case you lose one)
Pack enough cases and cleaning tablets
Bring a small travel toothbrush
For long trips, also bring the next set
Write down the clinic phone number for emergencies

Weddings, parties, events

You can remove them for important photos
ALWAYS store in case, never in napkin
Don’t leave them out more than 2 hours
If drinking alcohol, remove them first
Rinse your mouth before putting them back

Sports

For low-contact sports, you can keep them on
For contact sports, wear a mouthguard over them
Hydration: only water with aligners on
Store in case if you remove them

Do’s and Don’ts

DO

Wear at least 22 hours daily
Clean them at least twice a day
ALWAYS store in the case
Brush teeth before putting them on
Change according to schedule
Keep the previous set
Attend all check-up appointments
Contact clinic if something’s wrong

DON’T

Eat or drink (except water) with them on
Clean them with toothpaste
Use hot water to clean them
Store in napkins or pockets
Skip days or wear less hours
Change aligners early
Bite hard objects with them on
Smoke with aligners on

Your Check-up Appointments

Less frequent than braces, but equally important

Usually every 6-8 weeks

At each appointment we check:

That teeth are moving correctly
That aligners fit properly
Attachment condition
Your usage and cleaning technique
If you need refinement aligners

Even though appointments are less frequent, DON’T postpone them. If treatment isn’t going well, it’s better to catch it early.

Your Journey with Aligners

What to expect during treatment

Week 1 — Adaptation: Initial pressure, possible speech issues, getting used to removal and insertion routine.
Month 1-2 — Establishing habits: The 22-hour routine becomes natural. Small movements may already be visible.
Month 3-6 — Noticeable changes: You’ll start seeing significant differences. Aligner changes become routine.
Month 6-12+ — Toward the goal: Advanced alignment. Possible refinement phase with additional aligners.
End of treatment — Your new smile! Attachments removed and you begin retainers to maintain results forever.

Duration varies by case: from 6 months for simple cases to 18-24 months for complex cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I chew gum with aligners?

No. Gum sticks to the plastic and is very hard to remove. Remove aligners if you want to chew gum.

What if I have an important meeting or date?

You can remove them briefly (2 hours max). Store in case and put them back ASAP.

Do they affect my speech?

The first few days there may be a slight lisp. It disappears in a few days as your tongue adapts.

Can I smoke with aligners?

Not recommended. Smoke stains them severely and heat can warp them. Remove them first if you smoke.

Are aligners very visible?

They’re practically invisible at normal distance. Attachments may be slightly noticeable up close, but they’re very discreet.

What if I skip a day?

One occasional day won’t ruin treatment, but teeth can shift back. Resume immediately and don’t make it a habit.

Can I whiten my teeth during treatment?

Ask your orthodontist. Some allow whitening, others prefer to wait until end of treatment.

Does changing aligners hurt?

You’ll feel pressure for 2-3 days with each new aligner. It’s normal and means they’re working. You can take pain relievers if needed.

Keys to Success

Meet the 22 hours daily religiously
Clean your aligners morning and night
ALWAYS store in the case
Brush teeth before wearing
Follow the change schedule
Attend all check-up appointments