Top 7 Mistakes First-Time Invisalign Users Make

You’re getting started on an exciting adventure with Invisalign, picturing your straighter smile waiting at the end of your treatment. Some first-time patients, however, experience problems that ultimately slow their treatment and make it harder than necessary. 

At Dillon Family Dentistry, we have had the privilege of helping thousands of patients on the Main Line complete their orthodontic treatment and have noticed repeated mistakes. Fortunately, the mistakes we observe are very easy to rectify once you know what to avoid.

Key Takeaways

• Wearing your aligners less than 22 hours a day is the #1 reason treatment stalls
• Skipping retainers after treatment is how most people lose their results
• Small daily habits  like cleaning your trays and attending checkups  make a bigger difference than most patients expect

Mistake 1: Not Wearing Aligners Long Enough

This is what really matters! Invisalign will only work if you wear your aligners in your mouth the entire time they are being used, and the suggested amount of time (20-22 hours per day) is based on the science of how the aligners work to change your teeth over time. 

Many first-time patients fail to realize that those short breaks from wearing their aligners while eating, having coffee or some other snack, or any other number of hours will add up quickly, ultimately causing the patient to spend less than the minimum amount of time wearing their aligners during the treatment process.

If you live on the Main Line and use Invisalign for your treatment, try taking advantage of this little tip: As soon as you finish eating, pop your aligners back in right away! Also, place an empty case out on your dining room table during each meal to serve as a visual cue to help you remember to replace your aligners.

Mistake 2: Eating and Drinking With Aligners In

As your aligners are made out of a clear, cushioned thermoplastic material, which is not intended to be conditioned by heat, pressure, or staining, drinking hot beverages will warp your aligners. Drinking wine, juice, and other dark-colored liquids will damage your aligners and leave them permanently stained within a couple of days. Eating will create stress on the aligner and create small cracks or distort the fit of your aligner as well.

In other words, you need to drink only water while wearing your aligners. You must remove your aligners before consuming anything other than water.

Mistake 3: Skipping the Cleaning Routine

Cleaning your aligners on a regular basis is important because the buildup of bacteria, plaque, and food particles is constantly accumulating throughout the day. If you do not clean your aligners regularly, you are essentially placing that accumulated debris on your teeth for extended periods of time.

Here’s what a simple cleaning routine looks like:

• Rinse your aligners every time you remove them
• Brush them gently with a soft toothbrush (no toothpaste  it’s abrasive)
• Soak them in Invisalign cleaning crystals or a gentle retainer cleaner once a day
• Always brush and floss your teeth before reinserting them

This keeps both your trays and your teeth in much better shape throughout treatment.

Mistake 4: Missing Follow-Up Appointments

In many cases, patients believe that the lack of regular visits to their dentist after getting their initial set of aligners means that they can leave their check-up visit to the dentist until it becomes convenient. This misconception can be very expensive to correct.

Your daily progress appointment and consultation for getting your next set of aligners in Bryn Mawr is how your dentist ensures that your teeth are moving properly with each aligner. If there is an issue, such as a tray fitting improperly or teeth not moving as expected, addressing the issue early will save you weeks of backtracking.

These visits should not be viewed as a formality; instead, a course correction.

Mistake 5: Advancing Trays Too Soon

Generally, the temptation to switch to your next set of aligners before your scheduled appointment may be strong if you feel that everything is going well. However, please remember to only move to the next tray of aligners once your dentist determines that the movement of your teeth with the current tray has been fully completed and is within the prescribed amount. 

If you decide to proceed to the next set of aligners too early due to the perception of having good movement with the current tray, you may be causing your teeth to remain “under-moved,” resulting in “compounding error” and may not achieve the final tooth position as anticipated by your original treatment plan. You must always comply with the schedule established by your dentist and, if you still feel any resistance on a tray, that generally means the tray is still working as it should.

Mistake 6: Neglecting Po