Invisalign is a great way to straighten your teeth without having to wear metal braces. However, you may want to take a break from wearing them as you can remove them anytime you want. But, what are the consequences of not wearing Invisalign enough?
If you don’t wear them enough, it’ll result in your teeth moving back to their original positions and delay the treatment. They might not fit well on your teeth as well. Moreover, you might not see the results you want after the end of treatment. Make sure to wear your Invisalign as your orthodontist advised.
Talk to your dentist about how often you should be wearing your Invisalign for optimal results.
Still, you might want to know if you can take a little break from the Invisalign such as not wearing them for a few hours or skipping a day or a few of Invisalign.
In this article, you will know what happens if you don’t wear Invisalign regularly or take a break from it and what are the solutions for that.
Can you take a break from Invisalign?
You can take a break from Invisalign treatment as long as you’re careful about how long you leave your aligners out. It’s important to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day, so if you’re going to take a break, make sure it’s not for longer than a couple of hours at a time.
However, if you are talking about days, you can take a break from Invisalign for not more than 2 days only when you have an emergency.
But, it’s important to inform your orthodontist about it. He might have some changes in treatment planning because of that.
If you do take a break, you may find that your teeth start to shift back into their original position. This is because the aligners work by applying gentle pressure to your teeth, and if they’re not present, that pressure is no longer being applied.
As a result, your teeth may start to move back to their original position.
So, be sure to wear them as much as possible to get the most out of your treatment!
How long can you go without wearing Invisalign?
While you should be wearing your Invisalign aligners for 22 hours each day, you can get away with taking them out for up to two days in a row. However, if you go any longer than that, you risk your aligners not fitting properly when you put them back in, and you may have to replace the aligners. Moreover, you may not see the results you’re hoping for.
What happens if you don’t wear Invisalign 22 hours a day?
If you’re not wearing your Invisalign aligners for 22 hours a day or as prescribed by your orthodontist, you may be at risk for a number of problems.
Here are the consequences of not wearing the Invisalign 22 hours a day.
1. Teeth shifting back into their original position
Invisalign aligners are designed to gradually shift your teeth into the desired position. But, if you’re not wearing them for the recommended 22 hours a day, your teeth may start to shift back into their original position, that’s called relapse.
When you’re not wearing your Invisalign aligners, your teeth are no longer being held in place.
As a result, supporting structures that holds your teeth such as gums and bones will try to move your teeth to the original position.
2. Poorly fitted Invisalign
If you don’t wear your Invisalign for the recommended hours, your aligners may not fit as well when you put them back in. This is because your teeth have shifted back into their previous position, and the aligners are no longer the right size.
Sometimes, poor tracking may happen in one tooth only.
3. Gap between Invisalign and teeth
Another problem that can occur if you don’t wear your Invisalign enough is a gap between the aligners and your teeth. When there’s a gap, food and plaque can get caught in between, which can lead to cavities. This will also cause poor Invisalign tracking.
4. Delaying of treatment
As your teeth may begin to move back into their previous position, it could lengthen the amount of time you need to wear Invisalign or require additional treatments.
This is because you would need to replace the aligners abruptly or start the treatment over again from the beginning in order to get your desired result.
5. Extra costs
Not wearing Invisalign as prescribed could also end up costing you more money in the long run.
This is due to the fact the time required to end the treatment will be lengthened.
It will also increase the cost because you may need to replace the aligners or get additional treatments which can be costly.
6. More appointments
Not wearing Invisalign properly will also require more appointments with the orthodontist.
Appointments may be needed to check on the progress of treatment and to make sure that the teeth are still shifting as they should.
Moreover, if the teeth are moved back to their previous position, you’ll need an additional appointment to get a new set of aligners or start the treatment from the scratch.
7. Pain and discomfort
Another consequence of not wearing Invisalign properly is that it can cause pain and discomfort.
As the teeth begin to shift back into their previous position, your current trays will put more pressure on teeth than usual.
But, you get a set of trays based on the current position of your teeth.
So, you may start to experience pain in the teeth and jaw.
You may also feel discomfort when eating or talking.
So, if you are planning to take a break because of pain from Invisalign, you shouldn’t do that because it’ll make the situation worse.
8. Inconvenience
Wearing Invisalign is already a bit inconvenient as you have to take them out for eating and cleaning.
Not wearing them for the prescribed number of hours will only make it more inconvenient as you’ll have to wear them for longer periods of time or get new aligners.
9. Ineffective treatment
Lastly, not wearing Invisalign as prescribed can make the treatment ineffective.
It can cause a lot of problems that can prevent you from getting the desired results.
Know more about why your teeth aren’t perfect after braces.
What to do if you forget to wear Invisalign?
If you forget to wear Invisalign for a short period of time, don’t worry.
Just put them back in as soon as possible and continue wearing them for the recommended number of hours.
However, if you forget to wear Invisalign for an extended period of time, it’s best to contact your orthodontist.
They will be able to advise you on what to do and whether you need to start the treatment over again.
Moreover, if it doesn’t fit on your teeth, you need to talk to your orthodontist and set an appointment. Meanwhile, you can put on previous aligners.
How to take care of your Invisalign when you don’t wear them?
When you don’t wear Invisalign, it’s important to take care of them.
Here are some tips:
1. Put them in a safe place
When you’re not wearing Invisalign, it’s important to put them in a safe place.
This will prevent them from getting lost or damaged. It’s recommended to use a case to store it safely.
2. Clean your teeth before you put them back in
Before you put Invisalign back in, it’s important to clean your teeth. This will prevent bacteria and plaque from building up on your teeth.
3. Don’t leave them out for too long
When you’re not wearing Invisalign, it’s important to not leave them out for too long.
4. Clean them regularly
It’s also important to clean your Invisalign aligners regularly.
You can do this by brushing them with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
5. Don’t leave them in hot water
You should also avoid leaving your Invisalign aligners in hot water as this can damage them.
6. Insert and remove properly
When you’re putting Invisalign back in, it’s important to do it properly.
And, when you’re removing them, you should do it gently so that you don’t damage your teeth.
When can you take a break from Invisalign?
You can only take out the Invisalign when for about 2 hours a day when you eat, drink, and clean your teeth. Without that, you should only take a break from Invisalign if your orthodontist tells you to or if there’s a medical reason to do so.
For example, if you have a mouth infection or injury, you’ll need to take a break from Invisalign until the infection clears up or the wound heals up.
In addition, you shouldn’t remove the trays when you drink water. Only take out the trays when you drink tea, coffee, or beverages.
If you’re not sure whether or not you should take a break from Invisalign, it’s best to consult with your orthodontist.
They’ll be able to give you the best advice based on your individual case.
How to reduce pain after not wearing Invisalign?
If you’ve gone a few days without wearing Invisalign, the first thing you should do is to put them back in.
But, you may experience some pain and discomfort when you put them back in.
There are a few things you can do to reduce the pain.
1. Rinse with salt water
You can rinse your mouth with salt water to help reduce the pain and inflammation.
2. Apply a cold compress
Applying a cold compress to the outside of your cheeks can also help reduce pain and swelling.
3. Avoid hard foods
You should avoid hard foods as they can aggravate the pain.
4. Use over-the-counter pain medication
You can take over-the-counter pain medication to help reduce the pain. However, you shouldn’t take it for a long time as it interferes with the orthodontic treatment. So, use that only when you can’t tolerate the pain.
5. See your orthodontist
If the pain is severe, you should see your orthodontist as they may be able to adjust your aligners or give you a new set.
How to prevent relapse after Invisalign treatment?
Relapse is when your teeth move back to their original position after the Invisalign treatment.
It can happen if you don’t wear the retainers as prescribed by the orthodontist.
To prevent relapse, you should:
1. Wear Invisalign aligner as recommended
You should wear your Invisalign aligners as recommended by the orthodontist. Without wearing them as directed can cause relapse.
After getting new Invisalign trays, you may want to take a break to get rid of discomfort. But, don’t do that.
2. Visit your orthodontist regularly during treatment
You should also visit your orthodontist regularly during treatment to make sure that your teeth are moving as they should.
3. Following all instructions provided by an orthodontist
You should also follow all the instructions provided by your orthodontist to prevent relapse after treatment.
4. Wear your retainers as prescribed
It’s important to wear your retainers as prescribed by the orthodontist.
You should wear them all the time for the first few months and then you can gradually reduce the number of hours.
5. Regular check-ups after treatment is completed
After the Invisalign treatment is completed, you should still see your orthodontist for regular check-ups.
This will help to ensure that your teeth don’t move back to their original position.
Takeaways
Invisalign is an excellent way to straighten your teeth and wearing them for 22 hours a day will help you attain the optimum results.
Not wearing Invisalign for the recommended period a day can cause a number of problems.
These include teeth shifting back into their original position, delayed treatment, extra costs, more appointments, and inconvenience.
So, if you want to get the best results from Invisalign, make sure to wear them for 22 hours a day as prescribed.
FAQs about not wearing Invisalign enough
What happens if you wear Invisalign for less than 22 hours?
If you wear Invisalign for less than 22 hours, your teeth may begin to shift back into their original position. Additionally, you may experience discomfort and/or extended treatment time. Therefore, it is important to wear Invisalign for the recommended 22 hours per day.
What happens if I don’t wear my Invisalign for 3 hours?
If you don’t wear your Invisalign for 3 hours once in a while, it may not cause any issue. But, if you are doing it regularly, it will cause various problems including shifting teeth back into their previous position, causing pain, delaying treatment, and more.
Can I go 8 hours without wearing my Invisalign?
If you can’t wear Invisalign for 8 hours all of a sudden, it shouldn’t cause any serious problems. However, it’s not recommended as it can move the teeth back to their old position and stop the progress.
Can you wear Invisalign 16-18 hours a day?
You should never customize the duration of wearing Invisalign. Wearing the aligners 16-18 hours a day regularly will cause delay the progress and revering the progress by shifting teeth into old positions.
Can I skip one day of Invisalign?
You can skip wearing Invisalign for one day all of a sudden due to some serious cause. But, you aren’t allowed to do that often because it will add more days to the treatment and delay the outcome.
Is it OK to not wear Invisalign for 2 days?
If you aren’t able to wear Invisalign for 2 days in a row once in a while for a certain cause, you are good to go. But, doing it often or for more than 2 hours will lead to moving the teeth back to their original position.
What happens if I don’t wear my Invisalign for 5 days?
Your teeth will begin to shift back into their original location if you do not wear Invisalign for 5 days. You may also experience discomfort and difficulty eating.
Can I have Invisalign out for 12 hours?
The simple answer is yes, you can have Invisalign out for 12 hours. However, we recommend that you wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours per day for the best results. If you must remove your aligners for a short period of time. And it’s for 12 hours, ensure that it doesn’t happen regularly.
Moreover, be sure to brush your teeth and aligners before putting them back in.
Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that you rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking anything other than water while your aligners are out.
Is it okay to skip a week of Invisalign?
If you are considering skipping a week of Invisalign, it is important to speak to your orthodontist first. They will be able to advise you on whether or not it is okay in your particular case.
Generally speaking, however, it is not recommended to skip a week of treatment as this can lengthen the overall duration of treatment. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to your orthodontist.
What happens if you don’t wear your Invisalign for a week?
If you don’t wear your Invisalign for a week, you may experience some discomfort and may not see the results you were expecting. Additionally, your teeth may begin to shift back into their original position.
It is important to wear your Invisalign as directed in order to achieve the best results.
What happens if you skip an Invisalign tray?
If you skip an Invisalign tray, your treatment may be extended by several weeks to months. Additionally, you may experience discomfort and/or tooth movement if you do not wear your Invisalign trays as prescribed.
What happens if I don’t wear my Invisalign for months?
If you don’t wear your Invisalign for months, your teeth may shift back to their original position. Additionally, you may need to wear your Invisalign for a longer period of time to achieve the desired results.
You may also need to start the treatment from the beginning.
What happens if you forgot to wear Invisalign?
If you forget to wear your Invisalign trays for a day or two, you will likely experience some discomfort and may notice that your teeth have shifted back to their original position. However, if you continue to wear your Invisalign trays as directed, your teeth will quickly regain their position.
If you forget to wear your Invisalign trays for an extended period of time, you may need to schedule a consultation with your dentist or orthodontist to determine the best course of treatment.
