Why You Should Keep Your Invisalign® Trays While Eating?

When you start Invisalign^® treatment, you’ll hear over and over that compliance is everything. Aligners only work when they are worn, and that means keeping them in as much as possible. One of the biggest differences in how we guide our patients is that we encourage you to keep your active trays in even while eating.

Here’s why:

1. Maximum Tooth Movement = Better Results

Each set of trays is programmed to move your teeth a small, precise amount. If you’re taking your trays out every time you eat or snack, your aligners spend less time directing that movement. That lost time can add up to hours every day. By keeping them in while eating, your trays stay engaged with your teeth, which helps ensure that every aligner tracks properly and that your treatment stays on schedule.

2. Better Compliance, Less Excuse

Let’s be honest—many patients underestimate how many times a day they take their trays out. Coffee here, a snack there, then a meal later. Every removal creates more chances to forget to put them back in. Eating with trays in takes away that excuse and dramatically improves compliance. The result? Shorter treatment times and fewer refinements.

3. Chewing Helps the Aligners Seat

Believe it or not, chewing with your aligners in can actually help seat the trays more fully on your teeth. Just like we recommend “chewies” to help the aligners fit better, the natural act of chewing food reinforces that same principle. This means your aligners are snug and effective at guiding tooth movement.

4. Protects Against Forgetting or Losing Trays

When trays come out, they can easily get misplaced—wrapped in a napkin at lunch, forgotten in a case at a restaurant, or left behind at work. Keeping them in while eating eliminates this risk. Your trays stay where they belong: in your mouth, doing their job.

5. Long-Term Benefits

Patients who wear their aligners consistently—including during meals—tend to finish treatment on time and with fewer adjustments needed. That means fewer delays, better outcomes, and less frustration overall.

A Note on Hygiene

Yes, trays can get food particles and plaque buildup when eating with them in. That’s why it’s essential to:

• Rinse your mouth and trays after meals
• Brush and floss regularly
• Clean trays as instructed

This small extra effort pays off with a more predictable treatment outcome.

Final Word

Your Invisalign treatment is an investment in your smile. The more you wear your trays, the more effective they are. By keeping your aligners in even while eating, you’re giving yourself the best chance for a successful, efficient, and stable result.

Watch this video that explains the concept clearly: Why We Keep Aligners In While Eating.

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