Back to School Guide for Invisalign Teens: Everything Parents Need to Know
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Time to read 4 min
Is your teen heading back to school with Invisalign? Keeping up with clear aligners during the school day can be tricky, from remembering to wear them enough to keeping them clean and safe. But don’t worry, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to help them stay on track with their treatment while navigating school life.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
✔️ Eating at school with Invisalign
✔️ Keeping their aligners safe
✔️ Meeting the recommended daily wear time
✔️ Preventing bad breath & dry mouth
✔️ Managing Invisalign discomfort
✔️ Must have accessories for a smoother experience
Let’s make their Invisalign journey as easy as possible!
How to Eat at School With Invisalign
Lunch and snack times can be a challenge when wearing Invisalign. New aligners can feel tight and uncomfortable, making eating difficult, and taking trays out at school can be a hassle. Here’s how to make it easier:
🔹 Pack Soft Foods – If they’re dealing with soreness from a new set of trays, avoid anything too hard or chewy. Go for yoghurts, porridge, soups, and smoothies instead.
🔹 Make Tray Removal Easier – The tight fit of new aligners can make them tricky to remove. An aligner removal tool can help them take out their trays without struggling or putting their fingers in their mouth.
🔹 Never Eat With Aligners In – Eating while wearing Invisalign can stain and damage the trays, plus it causes bad breath. Always remind them to take their aligners out before eating.
Keeping Up With Oral Hygiene at School
Brushing and flossing after every meal is essential with Invisalign, but let’s face it, most teens aren’t keen on brushing their teeth in the school toilets. Here’s how to make it simpler:
✔ Travel-Sized Essentials – Pack a mini toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss picks in their bag for quick and easy cleaning.
✔ Floss Picks Over String Floss – Flossing after lunch is a must, but it needs to be quick. Floss picks are much easier and more convenient.
Tip: Keep an eye on their toothpaste usage, if it looks full after weeks of school, they might be skipping those after-lunch brushings!
Making Sure They Wear Their Aligners Enough
For Invisalign to work, teens need to wear their aligners for at least 21 hours per day. That means they only have around 3 hours a day without them, including mealtimes. Some common struggles include:
🔹 Feeling Self-Conscious – Some teens worry about how they sound or look with aligners. If they develop a slight lisp at first, encourage them to practise speaking at home, it usually goes away quickly.
🔹 Forgetting to Put Them Back In – Lunch, sports, and socialising can be distracting. Setting a reminder alarm on their phone can help them remember to reinsert their trays.
🔹 Tracking Wear Time – Invisalign’s blue compliance dots fade over time when worn properly. Check their trays occasionally to ensure they’re wearing them enough.
Preventing Bad Breath & Dry Mouth
A common complaint among Invisalign wearers is dry mouth and bad breath, especially after wearing trays all day. Help your teen keep their breath fresh and avoid bacteria buildup with these tips:
✔ Drink Plenty of Water – Staying hydrated helps prevent dry mouth.
✔ Brush & Floss After Every Meal – This removes trapped food that can cause bad breath.
✔ Use a Breath-Freshening Aligner Mint – Sugar free mints like StarMintz freshen breath and keep the mouth feeling comfortable, all while helping seat the aligners properly.
Handling Invisalign Discomfort
Tight aligners can be uncomfortable, especially at the start of a new tray cycle. Here’s how to help your teen manage the soreness:
🔹 Switch Aligners at Night – Changing to a new tray before bed allows them to sleep through the worst of the discomfort.
🔹 Use Orthodontic Wax – If the trays are rubbing against their gums or cheeks, orthodontic wax can create a barrier to prevent irritation.
🔹 Try a Peroxide-Based Mouthwash – A gentle mouth rinse can help soothe sore spots in the mouth.
🔹 Encourage Chewing Exercises – Gentle chewing increases blood flow to the gums, which can help relieve pain. Instead of using standard chewies, StarMintz are a great option, they freshen breath, fight dry mouth, and help seat the aligners at the same time.
Keeping Aligners Safe at School
Clear aligners are an investment, and losing them at school is easier than you’d think. Since Invisalign Teen comes with a limited number of replacement trays, it’s important to keep them safe. Here’s how:
✔ Always Store Aligners in a Case – Many teens wrap their trays in napkins at lunch, then accidentally throw them away! A brightly coloured retainer case makes them harder to forget.
✔ Use a Clip-On Retainer Case – A case that attaches to their school bag means they’ll always have a safe place to store their aligners.
✔ Remove Aligners the Right Way – Taking out trays incorrectly can cause cracks or warping. Show them how to remove them properly using an aligner removal tool .
Must Have Accessories for Invisalign Teens
Want to set your teen up for success? Here are the top Invisalign accessories every student should have:
⭐ Retainer Case – Keeps aligners safe when not in use.
⭐ Aligner Removal Tool – Helps remove trays easily without using fingers.
⭐ Travel Toothbrush & Toothpaste – Essential for maintaining oral hygiene at school.
⭐ Floss Picks – A quicker, easier way to floss after meals.
⭐ StarMintz – The only mints designed to freshen breath, fight dry mouth, and help seat aligners.
⭐ Orthodontic Wax – Prevents irritation from sharp aligner edges.
Final Thoughts: Setting Your Teen Up for Success
Navigating school with Invisalign doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the right tools and habits, your teen can stay on track with their treatment while feeling comfortable and confident.
By preparing ahead, packing the right foods, keeping up with oral hygiene, storing aligners safely, and using helpful accessories, you’ll help them avoid setbacks and make their Invisalign journey as smooth as possible.
A little effort now means a stress-free, confident smile in the future! 😁
Brandon Bloice
Brandon is the Co Founder of StarMintz and has personally experienced the challenges of wearing Invisalign. He hopes to provide valuable advice and innovative solutions to improve your aligner experience.
