Living with clear aligners: a practical guide

Clear aligners are designed to fit around everyday life, but a few simple habits make a big difference to how smoothly treatment goes.

Wear time is everything

Aligners usually need to be worn for around 20 to 22 hours a day. A useful rule: if you are not eating, drinking (other than water) or cleaning your teeth, your aligners should be in.

Eating and drinking

• Remove aligners before eating or drinking anything other than plain water.
• Brush, or at least rinse, before putting them back in to avoid trapping food and sugar against your teeth.
• Hot drinks can warp aligners, and coloured drinks can stain them.

Keeping aligners clean

Rinse aligners when you remove them and brush them gently with a soft toothbrush and cool water. Avoid hot water and abrasive toothpaste, which can damage or cloud the plastic.

Comfort

A new set of aligners often feels tight for the first day or two. This is normal and usually settles. Contact your clinician if you notice sharp edges, ongoing pain or a poor fit.

Travelling

Take your case, your current and previous aligners, and a travel toothbrush. If an aligner is lost or damaged, wear the previous set and contact your clinic for advice.

After treatment

Retainers are essential for keeping teeth in their new position. Your clinician will explain how and when to wear them.