Can I Skip Days of Invisalign®?

Invisalign® is one of the best ways that you can transform your smile. Whether you’re a teenager in need of braces or an adult who decided to change your teeth, it’s a very effective method of straightening your teeth.

Your dentist will give you instructions about how to take care of your Invisalign trays and how often you’re supposed to change them out. But you may wonder if you can occasionally skip days of wearing your Invisalign trays. The providers at Dental Art of South Bay explain more below about the Invisalign system and how you can correctly wear the trays.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is system of clear thermoplastic aligners. They’re custom-designed to fit your teeth using 3-D computer modeling. You can predict the results of wearing the Invisalign trays as prescribed.

When worn as prescribed, you should wear your Invisalign aligner trays for 20-22 hours a day. You can take them out to eat or drink, which is one of the best advantages of Invisalign when compared to traditional metal braces. However, you do need to clean your trays after eating or drinking.

You’ll need to switch out your aligner trays every two weeks, as each tray is designed to progressively change the position of your teeth.

How often you can skip wearing your trays

Ideally, you shouldn’t ever skip wearing your trays on any days. If you skip one day, it may not affect the outcome of your treatment too much.

However, the bigger issue is that it can become easy to skip more than just an occasional day. When you skip trays too often, it can alter your treatment plan. The aligner trays you’re supposed to switch to might not fit correctly, which can have catastrophic effects. 

All of your Invisalign trays are custom-designed to fit your teeth and to adjust to your shifting smile. If you skip wearing them too often, the future sets of trays may not fit. This not only means that you won’t get the results that you expect, but that you also might have to pay for entirely new trays.

What to do if your Invisalign trays are uncomfortable

An adjustment period is normal and to be expected. You may find the trays to be a bit uncomfortable to wear but stick with them because the results will be worthwhile.

Your Invisalign trays should fit against your teeth snugly and you should be able to bite down on them. If you have any gaps or places where the trays are not snug against your teeth, you should make an appointment for an evaluation with one of the providers at Dental Art of South Bay.

Recognize that it’s normal for you to feel an adjustment period when you start wearing Invisalign aligners and even when you switch to each new tray. Here are a few tips to make the adjustment more comfortable:

• Expect some discomfort as normal. You’re not used to wearing aligners and it will feel a little foreign at first.
• Find something to distract you from the fact that you’re wearing aligners. This may be doing crossword puzzles, knitting or crocheting, or even playing with a fidget toy.
• Try using an emery board to file down the edges of the trays just a little bit; this can make them more comfortable to wear.
• You may also find it helpful to use orthodontic wax, which is a clear silicone wax designed for use with orthodontics. It can help to protect your gums from the discomfort of wearing aligners.

If you are starting the Invisalign system, know that it might be a little bit uncomfortable at times. But it’s worth it to achieve the smile of your dreams, so you want to follow the instructions about how to wear them. Contact the providers at Dental Art of South Bay to request an appointment.