Invisalign allows for more freedom in your daily life than traditional metal braces do. But you still need to be responsible with how you treat your teeth and your Invisalign trays during your orthodontic treatment.
Keeping your aligner trays clean is one of the most important parts of your Invisalign treatment to straighten your teeth perfectly without creating build-up beneath your aligners.
Brush and Rinse Your Aligners
One of the best ways to keep your Invisalign trays clean is to use anti-bacterial soap and warm water to brush them and then rinse. Be sure to brush gently because your toothbrush can scratch your plastic trays and leave marks on them. Also, do not use toothpaste because it can cause discoloring.
Brushing and rinsing them often and properly can get rid of any bacteria and plaque that are caught on your aligners. Just be sure to rinse them well so that you don’t have a soapy taste in your mouth when you put them back in.
If you do wash your aligners with soap, do not use colored or scented soaps as these can stain and discolor your aligners. Invisalign is meant to be as invisible as possible so you don’t want any stained trays.
Rinsing your trays several times a day kills bacteria and germs that can grow on them in or outside of your mouth.
Soak Your Aligners
Aside from rinsing and brushing daily, you can soak them periodically in denture cleaner, retainer cleaner, or Invisalign crystals. These crystals dissolve in water and create a cleansing liquid for you to soak your aligners in. This doesn’t need to be done more than once a week.
Check out our Invisalign FAQs to learn more!
Store Your Aligners Safely
You should never eat or drink anything except water with your Invisalign in. Foods can break, stain, or scratch your trays, leading to a delay in your treatment process.
When you take them out, you need to put them in a safe and secure place. Use the case that they came in to store them so that they are well protected.
This will help you keep track of your aligners and not lose them. Many people put theirs on a napkin or tissue when eating, but this can make it easier to accidentally throw them away. If you have your case with you at all times, you’re less likely to throw them away or misplace them.
Keep Your Teeth Clean
One of the most important parts of keeping your Invisalign aligners clean is making sure your teeth are clean too. Brush and floss your teeth after every meal to get rid of plaque and leftover food particles that can get stuck in between your teeth. These food particles can cause cavities and keep your Invisalign aligner trays from fitting in your mouth correctly.
It’s always important to keep your teeth clean, but especially so when undergoing orthodontic treatment with Invisalign or braces. Keeping your teeth and healthy as possible will help you get that new, straight smile that you’ve always wanted.
If you have any questions about Invisalign or want to learn more about them, call us today at (843) 4-BRACES.
