Beginning an Invisalign treatment can be very exciting, as these clear aligners offer more flexibility and normalcy than a traditional braces treatment. They’re more inconspicuous, more comfortable and much easier to clean – but don’t overlook your Invisalign maintenance just because they’re easier to clean than braces! Below, we’ll tell you the best way to clean your Invisalign aligners and give you some extra tips for Invisalign care.
Daily Invisalign Cleaning
Your Invisalign aligners will build up saliva, food residue and other debris on a daily basis. It’s a good idea to clean them every day to keep them in pristine condition. For starters, you should be rinsing your Invisalign aligners every time you take them out of your mouth. For most people, this means whenever you are eating or brushing your teeth. Rinsing your aligners will prevent any build-up and keep them looking fresh and fitting properly.
Beyond rinsing them, though, you should also give them a thorough cleanse each day. We recommend doing this in the morning and in the evening when you are brushing your teeth. To cleanse them properly, use a toothbrush with soft bristles. You want to avoid the use of toothpaste and colored or scented soaps, because these items can leave residue in the aligners, cause discoloration and leave behind an unpleasant taste.
Extra Invisalign Tips
In addition to the cleaning protocols described above, there are a few extra steps you can take to help maintain your Invisalign aligners. For example, whenever you are not actively wearing your Invisalign aligners, you should store them safely in their case. This will limit their exposure to the open air, protecting them from the build up of bacteria. Of course, keeping them in their case will also help you keep track of them so that damaged or misplaced aligners don’t interfere with your treatment. We also recommend soaking your aligners in the Invisalign cleaning crystals, which only takes about 15 minutes. This will keep them free of odors, stains and bacteria. You can do this as often as once a day, although any regular soaking will benefit your Invisalign aligners and your overall treatment.
Invisalign Warnings
Our final reminder for keeping your Invisalign aligners clean is to make sure you always take them out before eating or drinking! You can drink water with your aligners in, but they should be removed before you consume anything else. Food and drinks can stain and damage the aligners, impacting your treatment and the appearance of the aligners themselves.
If you have any other questions regarding the Invisalign aligners or your Invisalign treatment, don’t hesitate to contact us today at Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser.
