On my first set and am following the instructions and using your app. My provider said 22 hours minimum. I was thinking this was a method of ensuring at least 20 hours of use… like telling someone you know is habitually late that the party starts an hour earlier than it actually does. That being said, I have noticed adhering to meals and less snacking (is it worth cleaning?) And little to no drinking (again, is it worth the hassle). I feel like I inadvertently joined programs for weight loss, nail biting, and sobriety all at once.
This makes me feel so much better. I was very rigid initially and stressed when I did not hit 22 hours exactly. Between 21-22 hours is way easier for me to achieve. I can drink my coffee in the morning and not speed through my meals. I wear elastics as well. Only issue I've had so far is my lateral incisors are very stubborn. But my trays always fit and I don't think my treatment has been compromised in any way aiming for 21 hours of wear time instead of 22.
I'm worried about the uncovered expenses going forward, since my ortho insurance is maxed out. I'm currently wearing tray #13 of 18, and change every 2 weeks. At the end of the treatment, my doc said she'd evaluate and determine how many refinements I'll need then. My question is: Can I use the final refinement tray as a nightly retainer, instead of purchasing expensive retainer trays for night use? What's the difference between a retainer and the final tray? Thank you.
Thank you very much for that video... for the first couple days I was that "perfect patient" and I found it really stressed me out for a couple of reasons... I'm okay with changing my lifestyle for a while, so no sipping coffee throughout the whole morning, no drinking tea while reading for hours... I can live with that. What stressed me was 1-rushing breakfast, that's just not good, makes the whole day stressed and 2-very individual to me but: singing. I'm a soloist in my choir and the mere thought of having to work around the aligners with a mic in front of my face and not being able to focus on what I actually am supposed to focus on in that moment almost made me cry... So that's what I use that extra hour for... I've extended breakfast time a little, just so I don't feel stressed and once a week for 2 hours rehersal they're out as well. Makes all the difference really... I now average 21 hours and don't constantly feel bad anymore... what a difference one hour per day can make...
When you consider the amount of money, time and effort this process takes, failing to follow directions is self-defeating. I started treatment in October with 19 sets of trays, scheduled to be completed in 38 weeks. By being strict about my 22.5 hours per day of wear time (thank you, TrayMinder), I will now finish in 23 weeks. Is it a pain? Yes. Does it interfere with my lifestyle? Yes. Would I prefer to linger after meals and have a snack here and there? Yes. But, by being disciplined, I've been able to get my teeth to track so well that not only was my total wear time per set shortened from 14 days to 7 days but I'm rewarded with removing these infernal things sooner. I don't know about anyone else but for me, that is worth every bit of sacrifice.
Hey I'm on 14 trays just started. How'd you go about going from 14 days down to 7, were you just trying your next after 7 days? I do 24 hour fasts so only eat and remove them once a day. Pretty much wearing them 23 hours straight, no lifestyle issues. Only pain is when they are on and I pinch my inside lip when they don't come off first time 😢
@@donjames1768 Congratulations! Twenty-three hours a day is excellent and your discipline will pay off. As for my wear time, I did not do anything on my own, everything was directed by my dentist. He prescribed 14 days for aligners 1 and 2. At follow up, teeth were tracking so well that he cut the wear time to 10 days for aligners 3-7. When I went back for the next follow up, I told him that I had no discomfort by day 4 and that the trays were loose by day 7. I asked if we could reduce the wear time to 7 days. He agreed and that's how I completed the rest of the treatment. If you're having issues removing the trays, do what I did - buy a PUL tool from Amazon. It's a plastic hook that makes it much easier to remove the aligners - I never could do it with just my fingers. Best of luck on your journey to a beautiful smile!
I had to get a tooth extracted (bottom front) so I wasn't able to wear my #1 bottom tray for a week; but I was still able to wear my #1 top tray. I just received my 2nd set of liners yesterday and the orthodontist want me to start on wearing #2 for the bottom tray even though I haven't worn #1 in about 5-6 days. Plus my gums were too swollen to even attempt to wear #1. I don't know how to move past this pain. I don't even want to take them off to brush my teeth 😭
seriously if you have classes continuously all god damn day with a 40 minute lunch its legit impossible. who wouldn't want to hit 22 hours a day but everyone's in a diff situation and its not that we're lazy or we arnt willing to sacrifice but just imagine running to the toilet to take off your aligners, queue for lunch, eat lunch and brushing your teeth in 40 minutes 💀I cant imagine cause my school make you queue up to 20 minutes just to get lunch
My average wear time is 22 1/2 hours. I’m one of those patients who go above and beyond what’s called to do. It’s good to know that wearing aligners a little less won’t do harm but I’m still going to wear them 22 1/2 hours a day 😊 Thank you Dr Bailey for your videos, I would be lost without them 🤗💖
The Invisalign booklet suggests 20 - 22 hours a day. My dentist told me 22 hours. I have 3 meals a day and really can’t get under 1 hour for each meal to include eating and then meticulous brushing and flossing. So, I’ve been wearing them for 21 hours which seems right where Invisalign recommends. It’s not easy. I had to give up snacks and sipping coffee and cream throughout the morning. I like your 3 hour free time idea.
just simply made some adjustment, just don't do eat and watch something at the same time anymore, just eat , put it back in, watch again. then 22 is not too tough. problem is when you start watching some.
First off love your app. 2nd am I unusual in that I wear mine literally 22hours a day? I take them out at 6pm for 2 hours sometimes 530+2hrs then back in and won't take out except for a couple minutes in the AM to brush the morning gunk off my teeth and aligners then back on for the rest of the 22
I'm averaging about 21 hours per day - some days less, some days a bit more (but I don't think I've gone less than 20 hours in a day). I tried to be really strict the first week, and I was exhausted and stressed!
I can't eat immediately after taking out alingers, sometimes due to pain or sensitivity. Also I can't brush immediately after eating either. So my ideal free time is also 3 hours
I don't understand how you can be under 22 hours to be honest. Guess I'm a fast eater? Breakfast is 15 minutes, lunch another 15 and the dinner maybe 20 minutes? I then eat things in between and drink milk a couple times a day as I try to hit around 3000 - 3500 kcal a day. Add a generous 5 minutes of brushing teeth plus inserting the aligners after every meal. Still, even with snacks and milk, that doesn't equal to more than 2 hours without them, it actually comes out to maybe 1.5 hours. How do you even manage to get to the point where you don't wear them for 3 or even 4 hours?
For me, it's not the eating, I actually eat super fast. Like 5-10 minutes max if I'm not at a restaurant. The problem is if you believe in waiting to brush your teeth after about 30 minutes. So let's take your example of taking about 15 minutes to eat. That can turn into 45 minutes per meal if you wait 30 minutes to brush your teeth. That comes out to 135 minutes (over 2 hours).
I've been averaging 22.5 hours and I'm almost done with week 3. My next appointment is after week 4 and I can't wait to get some feedback from my ortho. Sometimes I am able to see the changes in my smile but other times I feel like it's getting worse! I feel like my teeth are much whiter than before! 😅 what's bothering me this week is that I am starting to feel my metal hook more than usual. I hate wearing my elastic but I wear it anyway and hope they'll soon tell me I no longer need it. 14 weeks feels like forever! When my classmates share their snacks, I collect them all and have them during my snack time usually in the afternoon 😂 It's a lot of work but I want to see this process through.
I’ve been able to hit the 22 hour mark. The only issue is feeling like I have to brush immediately after eating which we’re told not to do. 21-21.5 is totally doable.
My dentist told me I'd be wearing mine 23.5 hours a day when I first got them in... I was like really? He said yes, pop them out eat brush your teeth and pop them back in. So do I eat once a day then or.....I quickly realized this was ridiculous, now I shoot for 22-22.5 hours... I think the plan was tell the patient 23.5 and hope for 22
I am 43, and I just started Invisalign treatment (I’m on my 4th set of trays.) Trying to squeeze mealtimes into 2 hour block was too much stress. In addition to a radical diet change brought on by tooth pain. Due to other health considerations I MUST chew my food slowly… so I decided on 1 hour mealtimes 3 times a day was doable, and caused less anxiety and stress for me. Towards the end of my week (when it’s almost time to change trays) I will sometimes leave them off a tad bit longer for snacks.
I'm one of those people who feel that 22 hrs/day is too restrictive, but I can easily stay within the 20-hr mark. I like to enjoy my coffee in the morning before breakfast (1.5 hrs); lunch is usually my shortest time without my aligners (30-40 min) ; and I make some pretty tasty meals for dinner, so I like to enjoy dinnertime as well (1-1.5 hrs). That gives me the time to enjoy meals without feeling rushed, and I have a little time left over.
I guess it's pretty achievable to get 22.5 h/day at least from my 3-month experience. What is interesting to me is if those aligner-free breaks are necessary? I mean I could go 24/day at times when I go fasting (water only) but I'm just wondering if it'd be ok for the teeth to be under continuous pressure for a day, two or three without taking your trays out at all? So the question is: can you over-do your wearing time?
I don't think you can overdo because the teeth track and once they move into position, wearing the aligner keeps them there until you switch to the next one. Twenty-four hours wear time is amazing!
I am currently in the refinement stage, or round 2. Because I work out of state, I had a protracted period of time without support. The aligners were worn and ill fitting. My uppers had moved, an did not fit the new appliance. I had to be rescanned which caused another delay. I became complacent with my therapy. I quickly realized that I could not be successful with that attitude. So, I’m back on the straight and narrow. 😄
This was helpful. I'm currently on week 4 of Spark liners. I like the three hours of free time concept, it feels more flexible than hearing 20-22 hours per day in the liners. I'd say I float closer to 20 hours but stay above that (all but one day we attended an outdoor concert in the evening) and I've been worried 20 hours would have a negative impact on progress. Your explanation was very helpful!! Thank you for taking the time to share this information.
If I use my logic, my sleep hours have to count because what's the point of using them all night long if those hours are not going to count? Example my last meal is always at 4 o 5 pm so I take my aligners off only to eat the usually takes me 20 minutes and then I brush and I like to take my time to be sure I clean my teehs between eating and everything else I take 30 minutes in total, and then I put them back again, so I don't take 2 hours free without the aligners, I only take them out to eat so if I use my logic my sleep hours counts because depending on the hours I put them back after eating that to me is 12 hours, example from 4 pm to 4 am is 12 hours and then during the day I complete the rest of hours. I'm just getting started, but I always have them. Another thing I'm trying to only eat at home because eating outside is a bit difficult, specially is the public bathroom is not clean, I prefer to wait and do everything at home.
Thank you, Dr. Bailey. I want this information so bad. 2 hours a day is kinda stressful…. Plus I have to use a rubber band on all the way ends of my teeth( it is not easy to hook it up), if I eat outside, every time I need to make sure my fingers are washed, etc…. The time consuming only eat once a day( weight loss, stomach problems, worry about my health ), etc…, but now you said that can be 3 hours a day… what a sweet thing to know!! Thank for your important information! Wish you the best! ❤🙌🙏
Thank you Dr. Bailey, nice to see you again. Your videos are very helpful. As a man in the sixties I was told by my orthodontist that wearing the aligner 22 hours is a needful undertaking. She was right. It took a bit more than 1 year and the result is wonderful. You need to have discipline. Best wishes from Germany.
@@choochingkaiser7698 Hi, the first six month I had to wear the aligners 14 days. After that period I could change them every 10 days. But 22 hours a day was the obligation. But there was no regret, the result is self explanatory. I hope this is helpful.
@@franz3091 thank you for sharing your Invisalign experience. How many trays did you get? Mine is 41 trays😭. Any cavities problemduring your Invisalign treatment?
@@choochingkaiser7698 Back again, I had 32 aligners and during the wearing time no problems at all. No I am wearing a hawley retainer at night but I am not that lucky. Sometimes it is annoying, you cannot speak and your mouth is full of plastic. I will ask my orthodontist to get that changed to invisalign retainers. I hope my classroom-English is good enough. Best wishes, Franz
I’m on week 2 of my aligners and have been trying to hit 22 hours each day, there’s been three days where I went a little bit over but the max I went over was 30 min bc it was after dinner and I was hungry for a snack. I certainly feel like I’ve had to rush through meals and then almost get rid of snacking completely which has made me very hungry when it’s time for the next meal. It’s been a bit stressful for sure. I also try to wait 5-10 min after eating before brushing my teeth bc I heard the mouth is acidic after eating and needs time to self clean? That ofc makes the 22 hour goal even more difficult. An extra hour a day would be much less stressful…
I haven't timed it but I try and keep them on as much as possible, only taking them off to brush my teeth in the morning and then to eat meals (I don't eat right away in the morning and I do my last brushing right after dinner so I don't have to deal with them again later). I doubt I have them off for more than a couple hours a day total. And I am happy that they are keeping me from snacking (I had a bad habit of mindless snacking before)!
Thanks Dr. For your videos! What has worked for me so far ( 10 wks in ) has been (4) 30 minutes breaks per day. I'm retired and it's probably easier for me because of that. If I was working I would have a hard time I'm sure!🤷🏽♀️
It's been 2 days since i got my 1st tray. I was thinking why not reduce daily wear time and increase the time the aligners are in? Maybe wear a tray 20hrs a day, and wear them for 2.5 weeks or something along the lines? Would that not produce the same result? I know aligners are expensive and getting over them quickly is ideal. But I'm very worried about brushing so quickly after dinner. P.S. I'm binging on your aligner videos now.
Thanks for watching the videos. 20-22 hours a day is the recommended wear time daily. The “HOW TEETH MOVE” video provides a good summary on the biology of tooth movement that you may find to be helpful. Good luck with your treatment.
I am the first type - super organized and follow all instructions to the point that if I fall short I stress about it! Have been managing 22.5 hours per day but over Christmas have allowed myself around 4 hours to really enjoy food and social gatherings. It is kinda tough going 22 hours but I do like the routine.
How is it possible to change trays every 4 days? It seems too fast. Are there any risks? Are trays capable of being gentle enough to be switched every 4 days?
That sounds too short. Teeth take 3-4 days to move into their new position and that's when they are most achy, so if someone is switching every 4 days, I would imagine it would be very uncomfortable. The shortest time my doctor prescribed was 7 days with the caveat that if I felt too much discomfort, I should extend to 10 days.
I am on day 4 of my aligners and have been logging just over 22 hrs. The app is extremely helpful so thank you. Thank you for the 3 hrs off suggestion. I am going on vacation shortly and that will help my stress. Otherwise, sticking to 22.
My ortho recommended 18-20 hours a day. I came into it prepared to do 22 hours and for the most part I am consistent with that. I do give myself the grace of 18-20 hours if I'm going out for dinner or other social events.
Thanks for the insight! Also, I was wondering if it is acceptable to not wait 30 minutes after finishing a meal and then brushing and putting in the trays. You might be able to fit that in 2-3 hours but my teeth have been tingling a lot and I’m wondering if that’s because of immediate brushing or just the Invisalign in general, or even something else?
I’m supposed to be on 3rd set for the 3rd week of treatment. I can’t get them on ! 😮 I haven’t been wearing my 1st two sets all the time during the day and evening, due to drinking and eating etc while away from home, I am now trying to wear the 2nd set as much as possible until the 3rd set fit. I think that’s the best pace for me, wear until the next set actually fit, hoping they still manage to move my teeth eventually at a slow pace, is this possible or am I wasting my time. My gums are really painful on those teeth moving most.
Am I the only one who was told by my ortho to wear mine 23 hours a day? 🤣 Maybe because I don’t have the holders like the Invisalign patients do? I’ve been cutting down to only 1-2 meals a day and chug my coffee with the first one.
Can you please make a video on how orthodontists decide the length of time to change out the aligners to the next? For example, my orthodontist told me to change every 10 days, but I know some people will change every 7 or 14 days. I want to know if I’ve consistently worn for 22 hours if I can move ahead and change out every 7 days
It all has to do with how your teeth are tracking, so your doctor is the best resource to ask. I started with 14 days wear for aligners 1 & 2 and the dentist reduced it to 10 days for 3-7 because the teeth were tracking well. The remaining sets were reduced to 7 days wear time, which I asked for, because I told him that the trays were loose at 7 days. So, besides being disciplined with wear time, talking to the doctor about your particular situation should get the wear adjustments you're looking for, if they are feasible.
I have finished my first set of invisalign (6 months) with strict 22 hrs wearing a day. I had lost weight a lot due to that time frame (just like doing IF diet). And to be honest , i could enjoy my food and dessert less ..... At the beginning of invisalign journey , the orthodontist told me that my teeth will be perfectly aligned once completing first set of invisalign (6 months). However, that did not happen, some of my teeth still not in line as it s meant to be so I need to carry on wearing another set of them (refinement invisalign)..... The question would be Could I wear 21 hrs a day for my second set of my invisalign (refinement stage)? I wish I could have enjoyed the meal longer each day so that I won’t lost weight like before. I don’t want my physical body looked sick again..... Thanks
Hey Dr. Bailey, wondering do you use Dental Monitoring DM that new Ortho tool, my orthodontist recently introduced it, want to know what your opinion is on it? I'm on a 7 day change and it said after 6 days I can move, it does say switch aligners according to my Ortho? Actually also using tray minder since I started treatment in October.
Hi Dr. Bailey, I just started my first tray and I can’t no longer bite down fully/chew from the back of my mouth when I’m eating. Is that normal? I originally had a closed/full bite, but I wanted to close some gaps I have the front teeth. Thanks for your videos, they are very helpful!
I'm just on my 2nd tray but have been able to wear them for about 23 hours a day so far, I only eat once per day as it is. Was recently disappointed though as I finished the first tray in 7 days but this tray I have to wear for a further 3 days then send another scan as one area wasn't tracking properly, so it felt like the 23 hours wasn't worth it or effective enough.
if the free time of 3 hours a day is okay then should I have to wear the aligner for 14 days or more for 1-2 days? I a having a free time of max 2hours and 30 mins a day.
I have a history with orthodontic treatments, including braces during my teens and a previous attempt with Invisalign that didn't go well due to noncompliance. One of the challenges was that in my sleep I would unconsciously take the Invisalign aligners out at night throwing them across the room. In the fall of 2023, I decided to try dental aligners again and opted for Smile Direct Club. It's my lower teeth, specifially my two central incisors, left lateral incisor, and left cuspid, are what require realignment. My upper teeth are already almost perfectly straight, and I don't have any bite issues. My plan is to wear the bottom aligners until my lower teeth are straight. However, I want to clarify that it's impossible for me to wear both the upper and lower aligners simultaneously, especially during the period when my lower teeth are in pain and undergoing alignment. It's important to note that I am a redhead, and scientific evidence suggests that redheads may experience pain differently. I am particularly sensitive to dental pain, which not only causes physical discomfort but also extreme mental anxiety for me. Currently, I'm using the second bottom aligner and will soon transition to the third. To ensure that my bite stays aligned throughout this process, I've taken the first upper aligner and matched it with all the bottom aligners (12 in total), and the bite seems to remain consistent. Since Smile Direct Club has gone out of business, I find myself without any support. Is this a crazy plan? Any suggestions?
Sorry to hear about your situation. Yes, some studies show that some people are more sensitive to pain, including people with red hair. Find a local orthodontist for assessment. Alternatively, see your general dentist for a check up and they can make referrals to an orthodontic specialist. The majority of orthodontists would like a clearance from the general dentist prior to starting orthodontic treatment to rule out cavities and periodontal problems.
So far i give myself to wear the Aligners for 20-21 hour a day. I give myself 3 hours for each of my meal time. So that I don’t have to rush through it 👍🏻. Glad that I habe use the TrayMinder apps to keep track for me. 👍🏻.
Hi Dr. Bailey I need YOUR opinion please. I've seen this video from straightsmile solutions... that reveal clear aligners are trash/failures/flops/terrible/the worst. I've been using them for a couple of months now. Apparently, nobody has finished, because it's so unpredictable. Im low-key stressed now. I dont have any complaints, but she says it has really weird outcomes. Please help. Your opinion will be so much appreciated. 💖💖💖
Sorry to hear that. I don’t personally use that brand of aligners. It’s really the doctor that makes the treatment decisions and aligners are the tools. Perhaps reach out to your dental provider?
My sister did Invisalign and finished her treatment and her smile is amazing. I'm currently going through my refinement stage after being in aligners since April 2022. I've seen many friends also complete aligner treatment with success. I'd definitely share your concerns with your provider.
@TrayMinder thanks doc. 😊 My doctor is really nice and good at what she does, so I will definitely have this conversation with her at my next appointment in early March.
@Kristine F thing is... I dont use the brand Invisalign. My aligners are called Reveal Clear Aligners. The lady in the video said that specifically Reveal aligners are trash. Hence, the sudden panic. But I will most definitely ask my doctor about it at my next appointment in early March. Keep well😊
@@zaniavanwyk1946 my dentist also uses a different brand than Invisalign called Dandy Aligners and they've worked splendidly. Please don't let one person sway your decision from completing your treatment as their experience could have been due to their treatment. As long as you're following your treatment plan with your provider, I'm sure it will all work out. ☺️
Sorry to hear that. One option is to download the TrayMinder app to help remind you to wear and change your aligners. For some patients, braces is a better fit for them.
Hi Dr. Bailey. I generally wear my aligners 22 to 22 1/2 hrs a day. I guess it's not a problem for me because I've been diabetic for 40 years in June and I've always made do with whatever would be best for my health
Two things are bothering me: 1. removing the trays is really hard and takes a lot of force, I started using medical gloves which is helpful. Should it be that hard? 2. Do I really need to wait 20-30 min. after a meal to brush my teeth, it really prolongs the time I'm without the trays on.
I am averaging 21 to 21 1/2 hours or wear time. Mentally I need a break if I am going to finish. I paid my money and I have no intentions on wasting it but I can’t do 22 hours without risking my emotional health!! But that’s just me!!😂😂
I'm a bit confuse about the 22 hours, just because I don't know if the 8 hours of sleep are included or when I wake up I started to count it. Because my logic does not match the hours, because I wake up arr round 8am and I only take them out when I eat my meals which are not the heavy and are not back to back, so what 8 to 8 are 12 hours and plus four are 16, so My question is how does the 22 hours falls into my day because to my does not make same if i don't count my 8 hours of sleep.
On my first set and am following the instructions and using your app. My provider said 22 hours minimum. I was thinking this was a method of ensuring at least 20 hours of use… like telling someone you know is habitually late that the party starts an hour earlier than it actually does.
That being said, I have noticed adhering to meals and less snacking (is it worth cleaning?) And little to no drinking (again, is it worth the hassle).
I feel like I inadvertently joined programs for weight loss, nail biting, and sobriety all at once.
Good luck with your treatment - enjoyed reading your comment. Very true.
Yup this will def help me loose weight as I constantly snack. Now I will eat twice or thrice a day max
Same!
This makes me feel so much better. I was very rigid initially and stressed when I did not hit 22 hours exactly. Between 21-22 hours is way easier for me to achieve. I can drink my coffee in the morning and not speed through my meals. I wear elastics as well. Only issue I've had so far is my lateral incisors are very stubborn. But my trays always fit and I don't think my treatment has been compromised in any way aiming for 21 hours of wear time instead of 22.
Thanks good to hear. Good luck with your treatment.
I'm worried about the uncovered expenses going forward, since my ortho insurance is maxed out. I'm currently wearing tray #13 of 18, and change every 2 weeks. At the end of the treatment, my doc said she'd evaluate and determine how many refinements I'll need then. My question is: Can I use the final refinement tray as a nightly retainer, instead of purchasing expensive retainer trays for night use? What's the difference between a retainer and the final tray? Thank you.
Thank you very much for that video... for the first couple days I was that "perfect patient" and I found it really stressed me out for a couple of reasons... I'm okay with changing my lifestyle for a while, so no sipping coffee throughout the whole morning, no drinking tea while reading for hours... I can live with that. What stressed me was 1-rushing breakfast, that's just not good, makes the whole day stressed and 2-very individual to me but: singing. I'm a soloist in my choir and the mere thought of having to work around the aligners with a mic in front of my face and not being able to focus on what I actually am supposed to focus on in that moment almost made me cry... So that's what I use that extra hour for... I've extended breakfast time a little, just so I don't feel stressed and once a week for 2 hours rehersal they're out as well. Makes all the difference really... I now average 21 hours and don't constantly feel bad anymore... what a difference one hour per day can make...
Sounds like you have found a good routine that works for you. Thanks for taking the time to write a comment and to share your experience with others.
When you consider the amount of money, time and effort this process takes, failing to follow directions is self-defeating. I started treatment in October with 19 sets of trays, scheduled to be completed in 38 weeks. By being strict about my 22.5 hours per day of wear time (thank you, TrayMinder), I will now finish in 23 weeks. Is it a pain? Yes. Does it interfere with my lifestyle? Yes. Would I prefer to linger after meals and have a snack here and there? Yes. But, by being disciplined, I've been able to get my teeth to track so well that not only was my total wear time per set shortened from 14 days to 7 days but I'm rewarded with removing these infernal things sooner. I don't know about anyone else but for me, that is worth every bit of sacrifice.
Hey I'm on 14 trays just started. How'd you go about going from 14 days down to 7, were you just trying your next after 7 days? I do 24 hour fasts so only eat and remove them once a day. Pretty much wearing them 23 hours straight, no lifestyle issues. Only pain is when they are on and I pinch my inside lip when they don't come off first time 😢
@@donjames1768 Congratulations! Twenty-three hours a day is excellent and your discipline will pay off. As for my wear time, I did not do anything on my own, everything was directed by my dentist. He prescribed 14 days for aligners 1 and 2. At follow up, teeth were tracking so well that he cut the wear time to 10 days for aligners 3-7. When I went back for the next follow up, I told him that I had no discomfort by day 4 and that the trays were loose by day 7. I asked if we could reduce the wear time to 7 days. He agreed and that's how I completed the rest of the treatment. If you're having issues removing the trays, do what I did - buy a PUL tool from Amazon. It's a plastic hook that makes it much easier to remove the aligners - I never could do it with just my fingers. Best of luck on your journey to a beautiful smile!
Thanks for sharing your experience with us:)
I had to get a tooth extracted (bottom front) so I wasn't able to wear my #1 bottom tray for a week; but I was still able to wear my #1 top tray. I just received my 2nd set of liners yesterday and the orthodontist want me to start on wearing #2 for the bottom tray even though I haven't worn #1 in about 5-6 days. Plus my gums were too swollen to even attempt to wear #1. I don't know how to move past this pain. I don't even want to take them off to brush my teeth 😭
seriously if you have classes continuously all god damn day with a 40 minute lunch its legit impossible. who wouldn't want to hit 22 hours a day but everyone's in a diff situation and its not that we're lazy or we arnt willing to sacrifice but just imagine running to the toilet to take off your aligners, queue for lunch, eat lunch and brushing your teeth in 40 minutes 💀I cant imagine cause my school make you queue up to 20 minutes just to get lunch
My average wear time is 22 1/2 hours. I’m one of those patients who go above and beyond what’s called to do. It’s good to know that wearing aligners a little less won’t do harm but I’m still going to wear them 22 1/2 hours a day 😊
Thank you Dr Bailey for your videos, I would be lost without them 🤗💖
It won’t I started with 22 and after 3 months I’m wearing it for 19-20 and I’m still tracking each new tray
The Invisalign booklet suggests 20 - 22 hours a day. My dentist told me 22 hours. I have 3 meals a day and really can’t get under 1 hour for each meal to include eating and then meticulous brushing and flossing. So, I’ve been wearing them for 21 hours which seems right where Invisalign recommends. It’s not easy. I had to give up snacks and sipping coffee and cream throughout the morning. I like your 3 hour free time idea.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
just simply made some adjustment, just don't do eat and watch something at the same time anymore, just eat , put it back in, watch again. then 22 is not too tough. problem is when you start watching some.
Good point. Focused eating.
First off love your app. 2nd am I unusual in that I wear mine literally 22hours a day? I take them out at 6pm for 2 hours sometimes 530+2hrs then back in and won't take out except for a couple minutes in the AM to brush the morning gunk off my teeth and aligners then back on for the rest of the 22
I'm averaging about 21 hours per day - some days less, some days a bit more (but I don't think I've gone less than 20 hours in a day). I tried to be really strict the first week, and I was exhausted and stressed!
I can't eat immediately after taking out alingers, sometimes due to pain or sensitivity. Also I can't brush immediately after eating either. So my ideal free time is also 3 hours
I think 3hrs is SSSSOOOOOOO much better. I was stressing and rushing to eat to try to keep that 2hr mark. 3hrs is a great medium.
That’s great to hear. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience.
I don't understand how you can be under 22 hours to be honest. Guess I'm a fast eater? Breakfast is 15 minutes, lunch another 15 and the dinner maybe 20 minutes? I then eat things in between and drink milk a couple times a day as I try to hit around 3000 - 3500 kcal a day. Add a generous 5 minutes of brushing teeth plus inserting the aligners after every meal.
Still, even with snacks and milk, that doesn't equal to more than 2 hours without them, it actually comes out to maybe 1.5 hours. How do you even manage to get to the point where you don't wear them for 3 or even 4 hours?
Thanks for sharing your experience. You seem to be very disciplined and that will go a long ways to getting good results.
For me, it's not the eating, I actually eat super fast. Like 5-10 minutes max if I'm not at a restaurant. The problem is if you believe in waiting to brush your teeth after about 30 minutes.
So let's take your example of taking about 15 minutes to eat. That can turn into 45 minutes per meal if you wait 30 minutes to brush your teeth. That comes out to 135 minutes (over 2 hours).
I've been averaging 22.5 hours and I'm almost done with week 3. My next appointment is after week 4 and I can't wait to get some feedback from my ortho. Sometimes I am able to see the changes in my smile but other times I feel like it's getting worse! I feel like my teeth are much whiter than before! 😅 what's bothering me this week is that I am starting to feel my metal hook more than usual. I hate wearing my elastic but I wear it anyway and hope they'll soon tell me I no longer need it. 14 weeks feels like forever!
When my classmates share their snacks, I collect them all and have them during my snack time usually in the afternoon 😂
It's a lot of work but I want to see this process through.
I’ve been able to hit the 22 hour mark. The only issue is feeling like I have to brush immediately after eating which we’re told not to do. 21-21.5 is totally doable.
My dentist told me I'd be wearing mine 23.5 hours a day when I first got them in... I was like really? He said yes, pop them out eat brush your teeth and pop them back in. So do I eat once a day then or.....I quickly realized this was ridiculous, now I shoot for 22-22.5 hours... I think the plan was tell the patient 23.5 and hope for 22
Wow! You are very disciplined and likely in the top 1% of aligner users. 23.5 hours of wear time may not be sustainable in the long run….
I am 43, and I just started Invisalign treatment (I’m on my 4th set of trays.) Trying to squeeze mealtimes into 2 hour block was too much stress. In addition to a radical diet change brought on by tooth pain. Due to other health considerations I MUST chew my food slowly… so I decided on 1 hour mealtimes 3 times a day was doable, and caused less anxiety and stress for me. Towards the end of my week (when it’s almost time to change trays) I will sometimes leave them off a tad bit longer for snacks.
I'm one of those people who feel that 22 hrs/day is too restrictive, but I can easily stay within the 20-hr mark. I like to enjoy my coffee in the morning before breakfast (1.5 hrs); lunch is usually my shortest time without my aligners (30-40 min) ; and I make some pretty tasty meals for dinner, so I like to enjoy dinnertime as well (1-1.5 hrs). That gives me the time to enjoy meals without feeling rushed, and I have a little time left over.
Thanks for sharing!!
I drink cool coffee and tea sugarfree with trays on. That saves me some time.
I guess it's pretty achievable to get 22.5 h/day at least from my 3-month experience. What is interesting to me is if those aligner-free breaks are necessary? I mean I could go 24/day at times when I go fasting (water only) but I'm just wondering if it'd be ok for the teeth to be under continuous pressure for a day, two or three without taking your trays out at all? So the question is: can you over-do your wearing time?
I don't think you can overdo because the teeth track and once they move into position, wearing the aligner keeps them there until you switch to the next one. Twenty-four hours wear time is amazing!
I am currently in the refinement stage, or round 2. Because I work out of state, I had a protracted period of time without support. The aligners were worn and ill fitting. My uppers had moved, an did not fit the new appliance. I had to be rescanned which caused another delay. I became complacent with my therapy. I quickly realized that I could not be successful with that attitude. So, I’m back on the straight and narrow. 😄
That’s great to hear. Hope you finish strong and well.
This was helpful. I'm currently on week 4 of Spark liners. I like the three hours of free time concept, it feels more flexible than hearing 20-22 hours per day in the liners. I'd say I float closer to 20 hours but stay above that (all but one day we attended an outdoor concert in the evening) and I've been worried 20 hours would have a negative impact on progress. Your explanation was very helpful!! Thank you for taking the time to share this information.
Glad it was helpful!
If I use my logic, my sleep hours have to count because what's the point of using them all night long if those hours are not going to count? Example my last meal is always at 4 o 5 pm so I take my aligners off only to eat the usually takes me 20 minutes and then I brush and I like to take my time to be sure I clean my teehs between eating and everything else I take 30 minutes in total, and then I put them back again, so I don't take 2 hours free without the aligners, I only take them out to eat so if I use my logic my sleep hours counts because depending on the hours I put them back after eating that to me is 12 hours, example from 4 pm to 4 am is 12 hours and then during the day I complete the rest of hours. I'm just getting started, but I always have them. Another thing I'm trying to only eat at home because eating outside is a bit difficult, specially is the public bathroom is not clean, I prefer to wait and do everything at home.
Can you take the aligners off the 2-3 hours in a row? I do intermittent fasting so that could be very convenient.
Great videos Doc!!
Thank you, Dr. Bailey. I want this information so bad. 2 hours a day is kinda stressful…. Plus I have to use a rubber band on all the way ends of my teeth( it is not easy to hook it up), if I eat outside, every time I need to make sure my fingers are washed, etc…. The time consuming only eat once a day( weight loss, stomach problems, worry about my health ), etc…, but now you said that can be 3 hours a day… what a sweet thing to know!! Thank for your important information! Wish you the best! ❤🙌🙏
Thanks for the comment and best of luck with your treatment:)
Thank you Dr. Bailey, nice to see you again. Your videos are very helpful. As a man in the sixties I was told by my orthodontist that wearing the aligner 22 hours is a needful undertaking. She was right. It took a bit more than 1 year and the result is wonderful. You need to have discipline. Best wishes from Germany.
Thanks for sharing your experience Franz. Moving teeth is such an art and science and each patient’s case can vary quite a bit. Best wishes to you.
hi Franz, are you wearing your tray for 14 days or less?
@@choochingkaiser7698 Hi, the first six month I had to wear the aligners 14 days. After that period I could change them every 10 days. But 22 hours a day was the obligation. But there was no regret, the result is self explanatory. I hope this is helpful.
@@franz3091 thank you for sharing your Invisalign experience. How many trays did you get? Mine is 41 trays😭. Any cavities problemduring your Invisalign treatment?
@@choochingkaiser7698 Back again, I had 32 aligners and during the wearing time no problems at all. No I am wearing a hawley retainer at night but I am not that lucky. Sometimes it is annoying, you cannot speak and your mouth is full of plastic. I will ask my orthodontist to get that changed to invisalign retainers. I hope my classroom-English is good enough. Best wishes, Franz
I’m on week 2 of my aligners and have been trying to hit 22 hours each day, there’s been three days where I went a little bit over but the max I went over was 30 min bc it was after dinner and I was hungry for a snack. I certainly feel like I’ve had to rush through meals and then almost get rid of snacking completely which has made me very hungry when it’s time for the next meal. It’s been a bit stressful for sure. I also try to wait 5-10 min after eating before brushing my teeth bc I heard the mouth is acidic after eating and needs time to self clean? That ofc makes the 22 hour goal even more difficult. An extra hour a day would be much less stressful…
I haven't timed it but I try and keep them on as much as possible, only taking them off to brush my teeth in the morning and then to eat meals (I don't eat right away in the morning and I do my last brushing right after dinner so I don't have to deal with them again later). I doubt I have them off for more than a couple hours a day total. And I am happy that they are keeping me from snacking (I had a bad habit of mindless snacking before)!
Jessica...SAME!!! I just don't snack at all anymore. It's been 10 weeks. I've lost 7 lbs!
I Am almost wearing 22.30 hrs per day.
Wow, amazing job. Keep up the great work.
My average is 21-21.30 hours. I think its very hard and stressfull to try 22 hours. Thank you for the video and trayminder app🙏
My Ortho said 20 hours. My dentist, who offers Invisalign, says 22 hours. Out for no more than 15 minutes at a time. I found a happy medium.
Thanks Dr. For your videos! What has worked for me so far ( 10 wks in ) has been (4) 30 minutes breaks per day. I'm retired and it's probably easier for me because of that. If I was working I would have a hard time I'm sure!🤷🏽♀️
Great job! Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
I also have been thinking 3 hours free time as the sweet spot. Thanks for advice🙂
Glad to hear that :)
It's been 2 days since i got my 1st tray. I was thinking why not reduce daily wear time and increase the time the aligners are in? Maybe wear a tray 20hrs a day, and wear them for 2.5 weeks or something along the lines? Would that not produce the same result? I know aligners are expensive and getting over them quickly is ideal. But I'm very worried about brushing so quickly after dinner.
P.S. I'm binging on your aligner videos now.
Thanks for watching the videos. 20-22 hours a day is the recommended wear time daily. The “HOW TEETH MOVE” video provides a good summary on the biology of tooth movement that you may find to be helpful. Good luck with your treatment.
I shoot for 40, 40, and 40 breakfast lunch and dinner. But I don’t eat lunch, so I can give those 40 mins between the others.
That is a good plan. Sounds like you are very disciplined.
I am the first type - super organized and follow all instructions to the point that if I fall short I stress about it! Have been managing 22.5 hours per day but over Christmas have allowed myself around 4 hours to really enjoy food and social gatherings. It is kinda tough going 22 hours but I do like the routine.
Keep up the great work and good luck with your treatment.
Thank you for doing videos for patients. I have learned a lot from this series of videos you posted over the years.
How is it possible to change trays every 4 days? It seems too fast. Are there any risks? Are trays capable of being gentle enough to be switched every 4 days?
That sounds too short. Teeth take 3-4 days to move into their new position and that's when they are most achy, so if someone is switching every 4 days, I would imagine it would be very uncomfortable. The shortest time my doctor prescribed was 7 days with the caveat that if I felt too much discomfort, I should extend to 10 days.
My ortho have me to change my tray every 7 days , I just started my treatment on 2nd day now on my first tray
I am on day 4 of my aligners and have been logging just over 22 hrs. The app is extremely helpful so thank you. Thank you for the 3 hrs off suggestion. I am going on vacation shortly and that will help my stress. Otherwise, sticking to 22.
My ortho recommended 18-20 hours a day. I came into it prepared to do 22 hours and for the most part I am consistent with that. I do give myself the grace of 18-20 hours if I'm going out for dinner or other social events.
Thanks for sharing :)
Me too. Going on vacation the week of 4th of July and 22 hrs every day would be so hard with eating out.
What happens if I’m in the middle of my treatment and I have to move out of state? Can I transfer to a new orthodontist or what happens?
Yes, the old office can coordinate with the new office for transfer of records and care.
Imo it’s too restrictive.
Thanks for the insight! Also, I was wondering if it is acceptable to not wait 30 minutes after finishing a meal and then brushing and putting in the trays. You might be able to fit that in 2-3 hours but my teeth have been tingling a lot and I’m wondering if that’s because of immediate brushing or just the Invisalign in general, or even something else?
Great video very informative and helpful when it comes to the Invisalign journey 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
I’m supposed to be on 3rd set for the 3rd week of treatment. I can’t get them on ! 😮 I haven’t been wearing my 1st two sets all the time during the day and evening, due to drinking and eating etc while away from home, I am now trying to wear the 2nd set as much as possible until the 3rd set fit. I think that’s the best pace for me, wear until the next set actually fit, hoping they still manage to move my teeth eventually at a slow pace, is this possible or am I wasting my time. My gums are really painful on those teeth moving most.
Am I the only one who was told by my ortho to wear mine 23 hours a day? 🤣 Maybe because I don’t have the holders like the Invisalign patients do? I’ve been cutting down to only 1-2 meals a day and chug my coffee with the first one.
Can you please make a video on how orthodontists decide the length of time to change out the aligners to the next? For example, my orthodontist told me to change every 10 days, but I know some people will change every 7 or 14 days. I want to know if I’ve consistently worn for 22 hours if I can move ahead and change out every 7 days
It all has to do with how your teeth are tracking, so your doctor is the best resource to ask. I started with 14 days wear for aligners 1 & 2 and the dentist reduced it to 10 days for 3-7 because the teeth were tracking well. The remaining sets were reduced to 7 days wear time, which I asked for, because I told him that the trays were loose at 7 days. So, besides being disciplined with wear time, talking to the doctor about your particular situation should get the wear adjustments you're looking for, if they are feasible.
My orthodontist initially had me at 7 days for tray 1-3, but then switched me to 5 days for tray 4-7.
I have finished my first set of invisalign (6 months) with strict 22 hrs wearing a day. I had lost weight a lot due to that time frame (just like doing IF diet). And to be honest , i could enjoy my food and dessert less .....
At the beginning of invisalign journey , the orthodontist told me that my teeth will be perfectly aligned once completing first set of invisalign (6 months). However, that did not happen, some of my teeth still not in line as it s meant to be so I need to carry on wearing another set of them (refinement invisalign).....
The question would be Could I wear 21 hrs a day for my second set of my invisalign (refinement stage)?
I wish I could have enjoyed the meal longer each day so that I won’t lost weight like before. I don’t want my physical body looked sick again.....
Thanks
Very helpful video , Im 40 and Im on 2nd day of my new aligner , it sooo painful in my front teeth
Hey Dr. Bailey, wondering do you use Dental Monitoring DM that new Ortho tool, my orthodontist recently introduced it, want to know what your opinion is on it? I'm on a 7 day change and it said after 6 days I can move, it does say switch aligners according to my Ortho? Actually also using tray minder since I started treatment in October.
Hi Dr. Bailey, I just started my first tray and I can’t no longer bite down fully/chew from the back of my mouth when I’m eating. Is that normal? I originally had a closed/full bite, but I wanted to close some gaps I have the front teeth. Thanks for your videos, they are very helpful!
I'm just on my 2nd tray but have been able to wear them for about 23 hours a day so far, I only eat once per day as it is. Was recently disappointed though as I finished the first tray in 7 days but this tray I have to wear for a further 3 days then send another scan as one area wasn't tracking properly, so it felt like the 23 hours wasn't worth it or effective enough.
if the free time of 3 hours a day is okay then should I have to wear the aligner for 14 days or more for 1-2 days? I a having a free time of max 2hours and 30 mins a day.
hi, I accidentally made a new treatment on the app and now I can’t change it back to the old one, is there a way to do so?? pleaseee😭😭
My elastics seem to pop more often as I progress in my treatment is that because my teeth are moving or is it something else
Can you do a video on the vibrating tool that suppose to help move teeth easier? Does it really help?
I have a history with orthodontic treatments, including braces during my teens and a previous attempt with Invisalign that didn't go well due to noncompliance. One of the challenges was that in my sleep I would unconsciously take the Invisalign aligners out at night throwing them across the room.
In the fall of 2023, I decided to try dental aligners again and opted for Smile Direct Club. It's my lower teeth, specifially my two central incisors, left lateral incisor, and left cuspid, are what require realignment. My upper teeth are already almost perfectly straight, and I don't have any bite issues. My plan is to wear the bottom aligners until my lower teeth are straight. However, I want to clarify that it's impossible for me to wear both the upper and lower aligners simultaneously, especially during the period when my lower teeth are in pain and undergoing alignment.
It's important to note that I am a redhead, and scientific evidence suggests that redheads may experience pain differently. I am particularly sensitive to dental pain, which not only causes physical discomfort but also extreme mental anxiety for me.
Currently, I'm using the second bottom aligner and will soon transition to the third. To ensure that my bite stays aligned throughout this process, I've taken the first upper aligner and matched it with all the bottom aligners (12 in total), and the bite seems to remain consistent.
Since Smile Direct Club has gone out of business, I find myself without any support. Is this a crazy plan? Any suggestions?
Sorry to hear about your situation. Yes, some studies show that some people are more sensitive to pain, including people with red hair. Find a local orthodontist for assessment. Alternatively, see your general dentist for a check up and they can make referrals to an orthodontic specialist. The majority of orthodontists would like a clearance from the general dentist prior to starting orthodontic treatment to rule out cavities and periodontal problems.
So far i give myself to wear the Aligners for 20-21 hour a day. I give myself 3 hours for each of my meal time. So that I don’t have to rush through it 👍🏻. Glad that I habe use the TrayMinder apps to keep track for me. 👍🏻.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing and glad to hear TrayMinder has been helpful for you.
Hi Dr. Bailey
I need YOUR opinion please. I've seen this video from straightsmile solutions... that reveal clear aligners are trash/failures/flops/terrible/the worst.
I've been using them for a couple of months now. Apparently, nobody has finished, because it's so unpredictable. Im low-key stressed now.
I dont have any complaints, but she says it has really weird outcomes.
Please help. Your opinion will be so much appreciated.
💖💖💖
Sorry to hear that. I don’t personally use that brand of aligners. It’s really the doctor that makes the treatment decisions and aligners are the tools. Perhaps reach out to your dental provider?
My sister did Invisalign and finished her treatment and her smile is amazing. I'm currently going through my refinement stage after being in aligners since April 2022. I've seen many friends also complete aligner treatment with success. I'd definitely share your concerns with your provider.
@TrayMinder thanks doc. 😊 My doctor is really nice and good at what she does, so I will definitely have this conversation with her at my next appointment in early March.
@Kristine F thing is... I dont use the brand Invisalign. My aligners are called Reveal Clear Aligners. The lady in the video said that specifically Reveal aligners are trash. Hence, the sudden panic. But I will most definitely ask my doctor about it at my next appointment in early March. Keep well😊
@@zaniavanwyk1946 my dentist also uses a different brand than Invisalign called Dandy Aligners and they've worked splendidly. Please don't let one person sway your decision from completing your treatment as their experience could have been due to their treatment. As long as you're following your treatment plan with your provider, I'm sure it will all work out. ☺️
How do I get back on track
I am not doing good with my aligners and I may have to go to the traditional metal braces. I feel bad
Sorry to hear that. One option is to download the TrayMinder app to help remind you to wear and change your aligners. For some patients, braces is a better fit for them.
I’m
Really struggling it just irritates me soo much
Sorry to hear that - hope it gets easier for you.
Hi Dr. Bailey. I generally wear my aligners 22 to 22 1/2 hrs a day. I guess it's not a problem for me because I've been diabetic for 40 years in June and I've always made do with whatever would be best for my health
Wow! Awesome. Keep up the great work.
Two things are bothering me: 1. removing the trays is really hard and takes a lot of force, I started using medical gloves which is helpful. Should it be that hard? 2. Do I really need to wait 20-30 min. after a meal to brush my teeth, it really prolongs the time I'm without the trays on.
I bought a PUL tool on Amazon and it made it much easier to remove the trays, which I could never do with my fingers!
@@vivian9803 Thank you Vivian!
I am on my Tray no 4. Usually I wait 10 mins after the meal to brush my teeth.
I am averaging 21 to 21 1/2 hours or wear time. Mentally I need a break if I am going to finish. I paid my money and I have no intentions on wasting it but I can’t do 22 hours without risking my emotional health!! But that’s just me!!😂😂
I'm a bit confuse about the 22 hours, just because I don't know if the 8 hours of sleep are included or when I wake up I started to count it. Because my logic does not match the hours, because I wake up arr round 8am and I only take them out when I eat my meals which are not the heavy and are not back to back, so what 8 to 8 are 12 hours and plus four are 16, so My question is how does the 22 hours falls into my day because to my does not make same if i don't count my 8 hours of sleep.
The night time hours definitely count. Think of it as having 2-3 hours of “free” time each day.
If you are wearing your aligners at night, those hours are definitely counted!
Dr.Bailey is a babe