What Not to Do with Invisalign: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Invisalign treatment is a popular, effective way to straighten teeth without the look or feel of traditional braces. It can be life-changing—but only if you follow the right routine. Despite its convenience, wearing Invisalign requires diligence. Many patients unknowingly make small daily mistakes that can derail their progress, delay results, or even damage their lear aligners. Below, we’ll break down the top five Invisalign mistakes and share simple, expert-backed strategies to avoid them—plus tools that make staying on track easier than ever.

Consistency is the cornerstone of Invisalign success. Your aligners need to be worn for 20 to 22 hours every single day to maintain proper tooth movement. Anything less, and you risk slowing down your treatment—or worse, reversing progress.

Even a “quick” hour or two without your aligners can shift teeth out of position, causing discomfort when you put them back in and prolonging your overall timeline.

 Best practices:  

• Set daily phone or smartwatch reminders.

• Use Invisalign wear-time tracking apps like TrayMinder or MyInvisalign.

• Budget aligner wear time according to your eating routine (e.g. 30 minutes for breakfast, 1 hour for lunch, 1.5 hours for dinner).

Invisalign cleaning is just as important as brushing your teeth. A common mistake is only rinsing aligners, using denture cleaning tablets or soaking them in colored mouthwash. While these methods may seem hygienic, it can actually do more harm than good. Here’s why: 

• Rinsing aligners does not actually remove sticky saliva or plaque build-up from your trays.

• Denture cleaning tablets are too abrasive (they’re meant for removing denture glue!) for aligners and will cloud or yellow your aligners.

• Mouthwash, especially those with alcohol or dyes, can dry out and stain your aligners.

• Hot water can warp the trays and any programmed movements will be altered.

Best practices:  

Proper care during your Invisalign treatment is the best way to ensure an effective process. Use your toothbrush and toothpaste, or clear aligner cleaning tablets that will:

• Gently remove plaque and odors without abrasion

• Preserve the clarity of your aligners

• Work in minutes—ideal for morning or nighttime use

👉  PUL Cleaning Tablets are the best alternative to damaging cleaning methods like denture cleaning tablets.

One of the biggest "what not to do with Invisalign" mistakes is not taking your aligners off during mealtime. It is highly advised not to eat with your aligners in. Eating or drinking anything other than water while wearing them can:

• Stain the trays (especially with coffee, tea, wine, or curry)

• Trap sugars and food particles, increasing bacteria buildup in your mouth and the risk of tooth decay

• Warp the aligners due to heat from hot beverages

Best practices:

• Remove your aligners before any food or drink (except room-temp or cold water)

• Brush and floss before reinserting

• Always store trays in its case when they’re not in your mouth

It might be tempting to tear your trays out with your nails, but aggressive handling can:

• Crack the aligners

• Distort their shape

Best practices:  

Gently remove your aligners with your fingers on one side and then loosen the other side to remove your aligner evenly, or use an aligner removal tool like the PUL 2-in-1 Seating & Removal Tool. It allows for:

• Easy, hands-free removal without the struggle

• Gentle seating to ensure trays are fully and evenly in place

• A hygienic alternative to using your fingers—especially when on the go

👉 PUL’s Seating & Removal Tool is a must-have to prevent warping trays and poor seating that results in treatment delays.

Fit matters. If your aligners feel too tight, or there’s a gap between your teeth and aligner it could be an indication that your teeth are not moving with your aligners as expected.; don’t wait. Skipping appointments with your orthodontist, delaying consultation,or ignoring signs of poor fit can result in serious setbacks.

Signs something’s off:

• Gaps between teeth and aligner trays

• Persistent discomfort or pressure after days of wear

• Missing attachments

Best Practices:  

• Perform mirror checks weekly

• Use aligner tracking apps to log progress

• Contact your orthodontist at the first sign of misalignment

Here’s a rapid-fire list of daily Invisalign do’s to keep your treatment running smoothly:

✅ Keep track of wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours day

✅ Brush and use floss picks after meals

✅Use an aligner chewie or PUL 2 in 1 chewie & removal tool to seat your aligners daily
✅ Store trays in their aligner case whenever they’re not in your mouth
✅ Clean aligners with toothbrush and toothpaste or cleaning tablets daily
✅ Replace aligners according to your provider’s recommended Invisalign schedule 

Invisalign is a fantastic solution for achieving a straight, confident smile—but only if you stay consistent and avoid common missteps. The five mistakes above are easy to make, but they are even easier to prevent with the right habits and tools.

PUL’s aligner care accessories —from Cleaning Tablets to the 2-in-1 Seating & Removal Tool—are designed to support your Invisalign journey from start to finish.

Explore PUL ’s full product lineup and discover the tools that help you stay aligned, stay clean, and stay confident—every single day.

 Sources: 

1. NIH. Clinical effectiveness of Invisalign® orthodontic treatment: a systematic review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6160377/  
2. NIH. Cleaning and Disinfection Protocols for Clear Orthodontic Aligners: A Systematic Review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8871989/  
3. NIH. Assessment of Food Masticatory Capability with Clear Aligners. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11276165/ 

Editorial Policy 

At PUL Dental, our goal is to provide clear, reliable, and helpful information to patients and dental professionals navigating the world of clear aligner treatment. All content on our blog is written by our cofounder, a Registered Dental Assistant with over a decade of experience in the dental field and a specialized background in adult orthodontics.

Drawing from years of hands-on clinical experience and patient interaction, we aim to create content that reflects real-world insights, clinical knowledge, and practical solutions.

Every article is:

• Written with firsthand experience from working directly with patients undergoing clear aligner therapy.

• Focused on accuracy and relevance to current orthodontic practices and patient needs.

• Transparent about our perspective, including when we share insights about products we've developed, such as the Original PULTOOL.

As our content team grows, we plan to expand our editorial process to include additional contributors, expert reviewers, and peer collaboration to further enhance the depth and quality of the information we provide.

We are committed to earning and keeping your trust by continuing to publish content that is accurate, patient-centered, and informed by real clinical experience.