Caring for Your Invisalign – Our Top Tips for Cleaning and Storing Your Invisalign

Your smile can have a profound impact on people’s first impression of you. For that to work in your favor, you will need to ensure that your teeth are in order. This is where Invisalign comes in, helping to straighten out your teeth and giving you that dazzling smile. 

However, the entire process also requires constant care and maintenance, especially when it comes to keeping your aligners clean. This will keep your oral health in the best condition. As your local Apopka Orthodontist, here are some top Invisalign care tips:

Top Tips for Cleaning Your Invisalign

Always remember, cleaning your aligners properly helps maintain their function and perhaps more importantly, their appearance. Proper cleaning keeps your aligners invisible. Aligners that are well taken care of can also prevent bad breath, tooth decay, and gum diseases. 

Remove Before Food

Always remember to remove your aligners before you tuck into your next meal. You do not want any food or drinks to damage and stain them. Just like how food particles can get stuck in your teeth, they can do the same to your aligners. If these food particles are not removed, plague can then develop.

Clean at Removal

When you remove your aligners, it is essential that you clean them thoroughly each and every time. This means more than just rinsing and soaking them in water. 

To get rid of the bacteria, use a clear soap to aid the process. You can also consider other cleaners such as ones for dentures or even specific Invisalign cleaners. Do not use hot or cold water either, room temperature is best.

Flossing and Brushing

Always make it a point to floss and brush properly. Food is inevitably going to get stuck in your teeth, and if you do not remove them, wearing your aligners can prevent your saliva from washing these particles away. 

This provides the perfect environment for bacteria and plaque to build up. Brush and floss before you put your trays on, and keep both your teeth and aligners clean.

Avoid Harsh Cleaning

You might feel tempted to try some cleaning tips you’ve read but remember to avoid cleaning your aligners with solutions containing harsh ingredients or chemicals. Soaps with dyes or toothpaste should be avoided too. Don’t soak your Invisalign in mouthwash either as that can cause discoloration.

Clean Nightly

At the very least, clean your aligners nightly, at the same time when you brush or floss. If your aligners look dirty or stained from something you drank, you can quickly clean it as well. Some people like to clean their aligners as soon as they remove them.

Top Tips for Storing Your Invisalign

When it comes to your Invisalign aligners, it also requires more than just thorough cleaning to maintain its effectiveness. How you store them is vital to their overall condition and the Invisalign case plays a big part.

After removal, make sure you clean your aligners properly. If you are done for the day, always make it a habit to store your aligners back in their case. In fact, even if you are just taking them out for a meal or to brush your teeth, it should be second nature to place them back in the case. 

This way, you can reduce the chances of them being damaged, or even worse, accidentally throwing them away. Not leaving your aligners all around will also keep bacteria at bay. To keep your Invisalign aligners safe all the time, make sure you keep the case with you wherever you go.

Conclusion

Invisalign is a great way to help patients with correcting and straightening their teeth. However, it requires care to keep things working effectively. Wearing them regularly is one thing but you also have to ensure that the aligners are well taken care of to keep your teeth in the best shape.

Dr. Alan Wong

Dr. Alan Wong is a dedicated orthodontist who loves helping his patients achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. He is committed to providing gentle, effective care in a patient-centered environment. Dr. Wong is also a strong believer in continuing education, so he can provide his patients with the latest and greatest treatment options.