Compared to metal braces, Invisalign straightens your teeth quickly, discretely, and comfortably. It’s no small wonder that so many patients are eager to start their clear aligner treatments! As convenient as Invisalign is, though, it does require some dedicated effort to stay on-track with your treatment. If you don’t wear your trays for at least 22 hours per day, your teeth won’t align properly and could put you behind schedule.
Trying to crunch the numbers to calculate your Invisalign wear time can be daunting. Maybe you wish you could hire an accountant to do the math for you. Before you start hanging up job posters, read through these helpful tips!
Give Yourself Buffer Times
When you’re driving to a new location you’ve never been to before, do you leave a few minutes early, just in case you can’t find it or encounter traffic? Giving yourself a buffer is a good way to ensure you arrive on-time, and it can help you meet your Invisalign wear times. Leave a good 15 – 20 minutes out of your calculations. That way if life gets complicated and you can’t wear your aligners exactly as scheduled, it’s not the end of the world.
Don’t Forget to Eat – And Schedule
You have to eat to keep your energy levels up and stay motivated during your treatment! Meals will most likely be when you remove your aligners for the longest amount of time, so it’s especially important to consider when and how you’ll budget food breaks. Some patients like to allocate 15 minutes for breakfast, 30 minutes for lunch, and 60 minutes for dinner, which allows for a 15-minute buffer.
Whatever sort of meal schedule works best for you, try to eat at the same times every day. This will help you build a routine and make it easier to stay within your temporal budget.
Streamline Your Tasks
Every second you’re not wearing your Invisalign counts, but with some strategic multi-tasking, you can wield your 2 free hours more efficiently. For example, if you invest in Invisalign cleaning crystals, you can soak your aligners while you eat, reducing time spent on maintenance.
Consolidating your treats, too, will make a big difference. Instead of eating breakfast, driving to work, and then drinking a coffee, you could simply enjoy both at the same time.
Practice Makes Perfect
It might take a moment to adjust to your Invisalign wear time plan. Keep in mind that practice does make perfect. The more consistently you stick to your schedule, the easier things will get. Before long, you’ll be able to appreciate a newly straightened smile!
About the Dentist
Dr. Cedric Chenet has a wealth of experience – both in dentistry and interacting with different cultures across the globe! With his welcoming and friendly nature, you’ll feel right at home in his dental office. If you have questions or concerns about getting your Invisalign wear times in, call Dr. Chenet’s office at 321-253-3136. He’ll help ensure your treatment progresses as smoothly as possible.