The Best Way to Take Care of Your Invisalign Clear Aligners

Anyone who’s had a friend or family member wear traditional braces knows how hard managing them can be. Apart from their unsightly appearance, they’re difficult to clean, food gets stuck in the constantly, and even when they come off it’s amazing how many tooth areas didn’t get the attention they needed. For these reasons, many people choose Invisalign instead.

While treatment is generally easier, it’s still important to know the right steps for making the trays last. Follow these steps and know one will be the wiser.

The Best Way to Clean Aligners

Cleaning your aligners looks a lot like practicing routine oral care at home. Every morning and evening when you go to brush and floss, use this time to sanitize your trays in either a denture cleanser or Invisalign’s own blend of cleaning crystals. Both work to loosen food debris and keep them smelling fresh and looking clear. After they’ve soaked for at least 15 minutes in cool water only (hot water can permanently warp the trays and prevent them from functioning) use a toothbrush to remove loose food debris before wearing. You don’t want a piece of food interrupting your treatment.

Toothpaste can be used to clean aligners, just make sure to avoid using products that contain abrasives, such as whitening toothpastes. These can easily scratch aligners and make them more visible. Furthermore, your toothbrush should be soft-bristled, as harder brushes can also damage aligners.

Watch Out For Stains

After you finish a meal, it’s important to brush, floss or at the very least rinse your mouth out to remove loose food, This is especially true if you just ate a dish with staining properties, such as pasta sauce, dark fruits or soy sauce to name a few. If food is leftover in your teeth and you wear your aligners, they can easily become stained. When cleaning aligners, avoid using colored soaps as these can also stain aligners very easily.

In addition, keep your trays inside their dedicated case when not in use. It’s a common issue for people to accidentally throw them away if left inside a napkin or on a plate.

Stay in Contact With the Dentist

In the event that your aligners are damaged or lost, it’s imperative that you get in touch with the dentist right away. Since Invisalign is a prescription treatment, only the dentist can order replacements as necessary. Keep in mind that not all aligners need to be replaced if they’re damaged as it can depend on what stage you are in during treatment.

The dentist may suggest that you move back to your previous pair or move onto the next pair, but always ask your dentist first. They’ll have a more accurate record of your treatment up until that point.

Not sure if Invisalign is right for you? Schedule an appointment with a dentist today for a free consultation!

About the Author

Dr. Steven Stec is an expert when it comes to esthetic dentistry. By attending many advanced education classes at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies on top of his formal education, he’s more than qualified to make your smile look as beautiful as possible with Invisalign. To learn more about his practice, you can contact him through his website.