Braces & Clear Aligner Tools: Tray Schedule & Wear Time

Trackers for every stage of straightening

These tools are built for the day-to-day part of orthodontic treatment: knowing which tray you're on, keeping your aligners in long enough, eating without breaking your braces, and wearing your retainer on schedule afterward. They work with Invisalign® and other clear aligners, and with retainers after braces.

Aligner Tray Calculator: enter your start date, number of trays and days per tray. See every change date, today's tray, your end date and a printable schedule. Download all changes to your calendar, each with a morning alarm.
Aligner Wear-Time Tracker: tap when your aligners come out and go back in. See today's hours, the time to keep them in until, and your streak. It works offline.
Retainer Schedule Generator: enter the day your braces came off and your orthodontist's plan. See today's instruction (full time or nights), every phase by date, a care checklist and replacement reminders.
Braces Food Checker: search 240+ foods to see what's safe with braces, what to cut up first and what to skip, with a safer swap. Switch to aligners or a retainer, plan a day of meals and print a fridge list.

Key numbers at a glance

Topic	What the sources say
Aligner wear time	At least 22 hours a day (AAO); 22 to 23 hours (Cleveland Clinic)
Tray changes	Typically every week (AAO) or about every two weeks (Cleveland Clinic)
Refinement trays	Needed in 70% of cases in one study (Ladewig 2025) and 99.4% of patients in another (Meade 2023)
Retainers, early on	Most of the day and night at first, then nights only (AAO)
Full-time retainer wear	Most US orthodontists in one survey prescribed less than 9 months (Valiathan 2010); one NHS clinic uses 1 week (North Cumbria 2025)
Retainers, long term	Most people need a retainer in some form long term (AAO)
Foods to avoid with braces	Hard, sticky and chewy foods, which can break brackets and bend wires (AAO, ADA)

Where sources differ, the tools show the range and let you enter your own plan. Your orthodontist's instructions always come first. These tools help you follow a plan; they don't make one for you.

Why aligner end dates move

The first plan from your orthodontist is a starting point. Extra "refinement" trays are common, and a new set has to be scanned, made and shipped. The AAO notes that aligners are usually made off site, and delivery from the manufacturer can take 4 to 6 weeks. The tray calculator lets you add refinements, a waiting period and pace changes, or sync to the tray you're wearing today, so your dates stay honest.

Your data stays on your device

Everything you enter stays in your browser. There's no account, and nothing is sent to a server. The wear tracker saves each tap as you log it. The tray and retainer tools save only when you press Save plan to My Smile. Your saved plans are part of your private My Smile data, which stays on this device. Calendar reminders are files you download, so they work in Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, Outlook and most other calendar apps, without push notifications.

Frequently asked questions

When will my aligners be done?

Add up the days for every tray from your start date. The Aligner Tray Calculator does it tray by tray, including pace changes and refinements. Expect the date to move: refinement trays are very common.

How many hours a day do I wear aligners?

The AAO says at least 22 hours a day, which leaves about 2 hours for eating, drinking and brushing. The Aligner Wear-Time Tracker logs your time out with one tap.

How often do you change aligner trays?

Usually every 1 to 2 weeks. The AAO says each aligner is typically worn for 1 week; Cleveland Clinic says about every two weeks. Your orthodontist sets your pace.

How long do I wear a retainer after braces?

Usually most of the day at first, then nights, and some wear long term (AAO). How long each step lasts varies a lot between orthodontists. The Retainer Schedule Generator turns your plan into dates.

What foods should I avoid with braces?

Hard, sticky and chewy foods, like popcorn, nuts, hard candy, caramel, gum and bagels, which can break brackets and bend wires (AAO, ADA). Cut up foods you'd bite into, like apples and corn on the cob. The Braces Food Checker looks up 240+ foods.

Sources

American Association of Orthodontists. Clear Aligners. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Cleveland Clinic. Clear Aligners: Purpose & Types. updated September 23, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Meade MJ, Ng E, Weir T. Journal of Orthodontics 50(4):361–366. Digital treatment planning and clear aligner therapy: a retrospective cohort study. 2023. Accessed October 26, 2026.
de Miranda Ladewig V, et al. Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics. Does the need for refinement sets of orthodontic clear aligners correlate with professional experience?. 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
American Association of Orthodontists. What to Expect After Your Braces Come Off. 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Valiathan M, Hughes E. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 137(2):170–177. Results of a survey-based study to identify common retention practices in the United States. 2010. Accessed October 26, 2026.
American Association of Orthodontists. Living With Braces: The Brace-Faced Adventure. 2023, updated 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Eating Concerns: What (and How) to Eat When You're Having Dental Issues. Accessed October 26, 2026.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. Orthodontics: Looking after your removable retainers. 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.

Last reviewed October 26, 2026 by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.

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