Nobody will know that you’re wearing Invisalign unless you tell them you are. This discreetness along with the comfort and convince they provide have made Invisalign one of the more popular teeth straightening options. Discreetness goes out the window if your aligners are stained, however.
If you don’t create some kind of oral hygiene routine and keep clean Invisalign trays, it will show when you smile. Aesthetics aren’t the only reason why you want to learn how to clean your trays.
Bacteria can build up on dirty aligners and cause tooth decay. We can help you avoid that. Check out this guide for a few important cleaning tips.
Create a Morning Hygiene Routine
In order for your Invisalign to do their job, you will have to wear them at night. While you’re safe in dreamland, bacteria are hard at work gathering on your teeth and aligners. To get rid of these harmful bacteria, you’ll need to practice good hygiene by creating a morning cleaning routine.
Take your aligners out when you wake up and give both them and your teeth a good brushing. Be sure to repeat this process each night before you go to sleep as well.
Rinse Your Aligners When You Remove Them
You can’t wear your aligners 24/7. There will come a time when you have to take them out long enough to eat and drink. It’s a good idea to rinse your aligners before putting them back in.
Rinsing your Invisalign will keep saliva and plaque build-up to a minimum. If you’re taking your aligners out so you can eat, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth or at least rinse before putting them back in as well.
Soak Your Aligners At Least Once a Day
There are some food particles and other gunk that simple brushing won’t be able to take care of. To keep your Invisalign looking its best, you should soak them once a day.
Pick up some Invisalign cleaning crystals and soak your aligners according to the instructions on the packaging. Once your aligners are done soaking, remove them from the solution and give them a good brushing to get rid of any stubborn plaque. Rinse your Invisalign and put them back in after you’ve brushed your teeth.
Don’t Eat or Drink with Your Aligners
Unlike metal braces, Invisalign doesn’t come with a list of foods you can’t eat. This is because you’re not supposed to eat with your aligners in your mouth. Colorful drinks and foods can stain them.
Invisalign also isn’t created with chewing in mind. The pressure can damage them and food particles will get stuck in them. You can drink water with your aligners in but that’s about it.
Don’t Leave Your Aligners Out in the Open
Whatever you do, don’t leave your Invisalign exposed to the open air. Bacteria will form on them and you’re likely to lose them if you set them on a table while you eat.
There are many accessories that you’ll need to invest in when you get Invisalign. A case is one of these accessories. Always store them in a case when you aren’t wearing them.
If you accidentally leave the case at home and have to leave your aligners out in the open, give them a good rinsing before you put them back in.
Proper Cleaning Methods
Now that we’ve gone over the dos and don’ts of Invisalign cleaning let’s talk about approved scrubbing methods. You can use Invisalign crystals or create a cleaning solution of your own.
Invisalign Crystals
The best thing that you can use to clean your trays is Invisalign crystals. They are made to get the job done without scratching or discoloring your aligners.
Fill a container with warm water. Tear open a packet of the cleaning crystals and stir them into the water until they completely dissolve.
Place your trays into the solution and let them soak for about 15 minutes. Take them out and give them a good brushing before you rinse them off and put them back in your mouth.
Hydrogen Peroxide
At low concentrations, hydrogen peroxide is the perfect thing to remove stains from your Invisalign. Combine the hydrogen peroxide with warm water and let your aligners soak for a little over thirty minutes. When your trays are done soaking, brush off any leftover plaque and rinse them before you wear them again.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has a certain abrasive quality that while won’t harm your aligners, will do a lot of harm to bacteria. It’s also good for getting rid of stuck-on food particles and plaque.
Dissolve a single tablespoon of baking soda in one cup of warm water. Let your Invisalign soak in the water for at least thirty minutes before you take them out and brush them.
Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar makes a great Invisalign cleaner as long as you’re using white vinegar. Any other type of vinegar will stain your aligners.
Make a solution that contains 1-part vinegar and 3-parts water. Let your Invisalign sit in the water for fifteen minutes. This will give the vinegar enough time to loosen up plaque so you can brush it away with a toothbrush.
Antibacterial Soap
You can’t use scented soap to clean your trays but antibacterial soap is fine as long as it’s clear. Colored antibacterial soaps will stain the plastic.
You can either create a solution of warm water and soap and let the aligners soak in it or apply the soap directly to the Invisalign. Either way, make sure you give the aligners a good rinse when you’re done. Antibacterial soap isn’t fit for consumption.
The Secret to Clean Invisalign Trays
Invisalign is the most discrete and comfortable way to straighten your teeth. You’ll need to keep clean Invisalign trays to get the most out of the treatment though.
Dirty aligners can lead to tooth decay and stains. Don’t let that be you. Use these cleaning methods to remove stains and keep your aligners booth looking and smelling great.
Are you ready to get started with your Invisalign treatment? Contact us to make an appointment today.