Properly caring for your Invisalign aligners is essential to preserve the condition of the aligner as well as your oral health. In this article, we discuss proper Invisalign cleaning and the best maintenance tips to preserve the longevity of your aligner.
Caring for Your Invisalign Aligners: Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
Cleaning your aligners properly is essential because:
- You need to regularly remove saliva, food, and beverage residue, as well as plaque, from your aligners, since they are in contact with your teeth and gums for at least 22 hours a day. Otherwise, bacteria will proliferate in your mouth and lead to cavities and gum disease, meaning that you will have to spend time and money on treating these issues in addition to your orthodontic treatment.
- Plaque and food residue can make your aligners change color, or the plastic become “cloudy”, making them much more noticeable in the mouth.
- Improper cleaning techniques can damage your aligners, leading to a loss of their original appearance or intended function.
Tips for Adequate Invisalign Aligner Cleaning and Maintenance
Here are the key tips and techniques for adequate Invisalign aligner cleaning and maintenance:
- Rinse your aligners before putting them in your mouth to remove saliva.
- Brush your aligners twice a day, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and unscented soap. Make sure to rinse the soap well before putting your aligners back in your mouth.
- Soak your aligners in a special lukewarm cleaning solution for 15 minutes every evening to help dissolve plaque.
- Never use abrasive toothpaste or hard-bristle toothbrushes on your aligners, as they can create microscratches that make them appear discolored.
- Use only lukewarm water for cleaning your aligners, as hot water can warp the plastic, making your Invisalign unwearable or ineffective.
- Do not forget to clean your Invisalign container daily. To do so, you can also use a toothbrush and soap.
Oral Hygiene With Invisalign
As we mentioned before, your Invisalign trays cover your teeth for at least 22 hours a day, trapping plaque and food debris beneath them. This makes it a perfect environment for bacterial proliferation, and if you do not clean your teeth effectively every day, the risk of developing cavities and gum disease increases. Follow these tips to ensure adequate oral hygiene when wearing Invisalign:
- Rinse your mouth or brush your teeth, if possible, after meals before putting your aligners in. This way, you will minimize the amount of bacteria trapped under the aligners throughout the day.
- Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste. Make sure to clean well at the back of your mouth and along the gumline.
- Floss thoroughly every evening, making sure to remove plaque from every tooth.
- Add a water flosser to your routine to further boost the effectiveness of your hygiene. A water flosser has been proven effective at reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease when used in addition to traditional flossing and brushing. You can also use a water flosser after meals to effectively remove wood residue between the teeth.
- Do not neglect biyearly dental visits for professional cleanings and fluoride treatments, as even people with impeccable at-home oral hygiene can have plaque accumulate in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Also, fluoride treatments will make your tooth enamel more resistant to bacteria and cavities.
Start Invisalign Treatment at TruGlo Modern Dental Beverly Hills
If you are considering an orthodontic treatment, do not hesitate to make an appointment at our Beverly Hills dental office today. Our specialists will examine your case and take your goals, needs, and preferences into consideration to create an optimal and effective treatment plan.
