Invisalign treatment is a lengthy process, but it’s worth it for the tremendous results it produces. Invisalign wearers get a lot more freedom than those with braces, but this also means there’s a lot more responsibility in making sure you’re wearing them.
If you’re thinking, “how many times a day can I remove my aligners”, the answer is for every meal and brushing your teeth. But this does not mean you can leave your retainers out for the entire day. While skipping a day isn’t the worst thing in the world, it’s highly recommended you never leave your Invisalign out for the day.
Is it OK not to wear Invisalign for a day?
Never miss a day of Invisalign. Or, at the very least, try your absolute best not to. While it’s not the end of the world if you miss one day, you should try everything to prevent that from happening. Missing any extended time will cause your teeth to shift back to where they were, and you might even have to revert to an old retainer.
A comparison between Invisalign and braces is worth exploring at this point. Braces are fixed to your mouth, so they provide round-the-clock treatment without you having to worry about skipping a day. You wouldn’t expect to go a day without braces during your treatment, so why should Invisalign be any different?
Can I skip a day of Invisalign?
In short, yes, you can skip a day of Invisalign. But you really shouldn’t. Try everything you can to refrain from skipping a day of Invisalign, especially at the start of your treatment, as your teeth are more prone to movement.
Skipping a day of Invisalign can prolong the time it takes to close gaps or straighten your teeth, which could end up costing you more in dental fees. If you’ve got further questions, like how long does Invisalign take to close a gap, you can find all the information on our website.
What happens if you skip wearing Invisalign for a day?
Missing even just a single day of wearing your Invisalign can damage your teeth. Without a total 22 hours of treatment, your teeth will automatically begin to revert to their original positions. This means your treatment will take longer, potentially costing you a lot more. For details on what happens to your teeth if you miss a day of Invisalign, check out the information below.
Teeth will move back to the incorrect position
Your teeth are always looking for the most comfortable position. Invisalign treatment aims to take them out of their comfort zone and reposition them in a better, more natural place. Without your retainers, your teeth will head back to where they were before, setting your treatment back and stalling the process.
Treatment will get prolonged
Skipping a day of Invisalign treatment won’t set you back months, but it can delay the treatment, especially if it keeps happening. Obviously, Invisalign can’t work its magic when it’s not in your mouth, so for every day it’s out, you’ll lose a hefty portion of your treatment. Your treatment process will be prolonged, which will likely end up costing you a lot more than you previously anticipated.
You may have to go back to your old aligners
If your teeth are particularly fast-moving, leaving your Invisalign retainers out for even one day could mean they don’t fit right anymore. This means you’ll have to revert to one of your previous retainers, setting your treatment back weeks.