How many hours a day do you wear your invisalign?

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#1 Post by **24braceface** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:10 am

Do you take them out for more than an hour a day?

#2 Post by **John37** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:22 am

When I started I only would have them out for 2 hours at most on average. That got up to 3 hours per day a few months ago. Lately I have them out for 4 hours. I am on 26 of 28. I should wear them longer. I do stupid stuff like after I'm finished eating, I take time to post to this forum instead of putting the aligners back in first.

#3 Post by **swedishsmile** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:38 am

I usually wear them 22 hrs a day. ~1 day each week I wear them 21 hrs. About 5 times I've had them out for more than 4 hrs.

#4 Post by **Wobblydeb** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:05 am

I reckon they must be out about 3 hours a day. Possibly longer when I'm having an "I need caffeine" day!!

#5 Post by **HeatherS** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:50 am

For me it depends on how far I am into each tray. For instance, for the first few days of each new tray I only have them out for an hour to an hour and a half for the whole day. By the end of the two weeks, however, I'll usually have them out for 2.5 - 3 hours a day.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:02 pm

I usually have them out for 2.5 or 3 hours a day.

#7 Post by **Rio UK** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:03 am

I probably wear mine for about 20/21 hours a day. I do find it hard to stick to the 22hrs especially when I have lunch meetings at work or dinner with friends in the evenings.

On saturday night I went out for dinner with friends which lasted about 2 hrs. Then I realised I was going to miss my last train so I RAN to the station before I managed to get to a bathroom. Then there was no toilet on the train so by the time I finally got home I'd had them out for over 3 hours! plus an hour and a half earlier in the day for breakfast and lunch!!

#8 Post by **anastasia** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:27 pm

I've never timed it, but I think I probably have them in for at least 22 hours the first few days. At that time it feels weird having them out (my teeth feel sensitive and loose), and if they're out too long I can feel that the trays are tighter when I put them back in.

The last week I'm more relaxed though. It feels like my teeth have moved into place and kinda settled. I've even had my tray out for 4 hours straight (oops) and no "tight" sensation when I put them back in.

I think my teeth move fast, so I'm going to ask my ortho if I can wear them for 10-11 days instead of two weeks like I've read some of you do. He probably won't go for it though, he has VERY little experience with Invisalign so he'll most likely want to stick with the plan from the Invisalign-people

#9 Post by **PaulInc** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:46 pm

You guys must eat, drink and brush fast. I've only just started and i'm finding it real hard to have 3+ good meals a day and keep them on 22 hours. Just this morning i think i had them out 1.5 hours while enjoying my (one and only) coffee of the day and a bowl of cereal.

Now i am reading things saying not to brush for at least 30 minutes after eating something, so i am not even sure what to do about that. I guess i have to ignore it and brush anyway else i will be easily over 4 hours out a day.

#10 Post by **John37** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:13 pm

I have a watch with a stopwatch. I start it when I take the trays out and stop it when I put them back in. This way I can see how long I've had them out each day. This helped me try to get done eating and get them back in as soon as possible, but I'm still slacking lately. Also, sometimes I forget to start or stop the stopwatch, so then I lose track for that day. I wonder if other people are just estimating the time they have their trays out.

#11 Post by **PaulInc** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 4:38 am

It's mainly in a morning with my coffee. I like to wake up and relax sipping on my ridiculously large and strong coffee until it kicks in. I can spend at least an hour doing this, but now i am really rushing it. Chugging my coffee is not something that bodes well with the stomach.

#12 Post by **Devushka** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:36 pm

I eat twice a day and can manage to keep them in anywhere from 22 to 23.5 hours a day. Depends on what and where I am eating. Since I don't go out to eat often and don't drink anything but water I am able to eat fast and clean and reinsert fast.

#13 Post by **PaulInc** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:54 pm

How much you eat and how often will play a big part too. A physically active guy is going to have a real hard time getting by on just 2 meals a day.

I will stick to my 22 hours (give or take a pinch), but it's going to be very hard task eating 6 meals a day and keeping my teeth clean and aligned.

#14 Post by **John37** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 6:36 pm

Yes, I eat from 3000 to 4000 calories a day and it's hard to only have my aligners out for only 2 hours a day. I can do it if I concentrate on only eating the whole time I have them out. I did it in the beginning, but now it's more like 3-4 hours a day. I guess because I'm near the end and will need refinements anyway I'm starting to care less. Some of my teeth are already off track and wearing the aligners longer won't fix that at this point.