Clear Aligner Care: Practical Tips for Patients

Clear aligners give you the flexibility of a removable appliance, but that flexibility comes with responsibility. How you wear, clean and store your aligners has a direct effect on how treatment progresses. These practical tips will help.

Wear time is everything

Aligners move teeth only when they are in your mouth. Most treatment plans require aligners to be worn for around 20–22 hours a day — your dentist will tell you exactly what applies to you.

• Put aligners back in straight after eating and brushing
• Avoid leaving them out "just for a while" — minutes add up
• Use a phone reminder if you tend to forget
• Change to the next set only as instructed

If aligners stop fitting snugly, contact the clinic rather than forcing them.

Eating and drinking

Remove your aligners for all food and for any drink other than plain water. Drinking sugary or acidic drinks with aligners in traps the liquid against your teeth, increasing the risk of decay. Hot drinks can also warp the plastic.

After eating, brush your teeth (or at least rinse thoroughly) before putting aligners back in.

Cleaning your aligners

• Rinse aligners in cool or lukewarm water each time you remove them
• Gently brush them with a soft toothbrush, separate from the one you use for your teeth
• Avoid hot water, which can distort them
• Avoid coloured or abrasive toothpastes that may scratch or stain
• Use cleaning products only if recommended by your dentist

Clean aligners stay clearer and help keep your breath fresh.

Keep your teeth clean too

Brush twice daily and clean between your teeth. Plaque trapped under aligners has more time to affect your enamel, so good hygiene is especially important. See how to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Storing aligners safely

Most lost aligners are wrapped in a napkin during a meal and accidentally thrown away. Always use the case.

• Keep the case with you at all times
• Never leave aligners where pets can reach them
• Keep them away from heat, such as a car dashboard

If you lose or break an aligner

Contact the clinic for advice. Depending on your stage of treatment, you may be asked to wear the previous or next set until a replacement is arranged. Keep previous aligners if instructed, as they can be useful in these situations.

Discomfort

Each new set may feel tight for a day or two. This pressure is usually a sign the aligners are working. Switching to a new set at bedtime can help you sleep through the first few hours. Let your dentist know if discomfort is severe or a tray edge irritates your gums.

Attachments

Small tooth-coloured bumps called attachments help aligners grip and move teeth. Brush around them carefully, and let the clinic know if one comes off.

Travel

Pack your case, your current and next aligners if advised, and a travel toothbrush. Plan for meals so you can brush before putting aligners back in.

After treatment: retainers

Once active treatment ends, retainers help keep teeth in their new positions. Follow retainer instructions carefully — this is what protects your result.

To learn more about the treatment, visit our clear aligners page, or compare options in braces vs clear aligners.