Caring for Your Invisalign Trays

If you’ve been in to see your orthodontist recently and you’ve discovered that Invisalign is the best option for you, the first thing you and your doctor will do is take impressions of your teeth so that your aligners can be custom made for your mouth. After you receive your first set of Invisalign aligners, you might be wondering about the best way to take care of them until you get your next set in a couple weeks.

Even though your Invisalign aligners are essentially disposable and you can remove them while eating or drinking, you still need to keep them clean. A failure to clean your aligners regularly will lead to bacteria build up, which can cause discoloration, unpleasant orders, and oral health concerns.

Fortunately, keeping your Invisalign aligners clean is really simple. Here are a few things you should do regularly:

1.     Rinse your aligners whenever you take them out of your mouth. This will remove saliva and plaque, which left to their own devices can encourage bacteria to multiply on your aligners, leading to unpleasant smells and discoloration.

2.     Reduce the amount of bacteria that can transfer from your mouth to your aligners by brushing and flossing your teeth before putting your aligners back on. Invisalign aligners are form fitted, so if you skip brushing and flossing before reinserting the aligners, you can inadvertently trap unwanted particles between your teeth and the aligner, which increases your risk for dental issues in the future.

3.    Soak your aligners overnight in denture cleaner, retainer cleaner, or the Invisalign cleaning crystals, to keep bacteria at bay.

4.     If you choose to brush your aligners, use a soft-bristled brush, a gentle hand and NO toothpaste. Brushing vigorously can scratch your aligners and leave visible etch marks—making them NOT invisible!

5.     While wearing your aligners, don’t drink anything other than water. Pretty much anything else can stain your aligners.

6.     Remember to keep your aligners in their container while you’re not wearing them. Leaving them out can increase the risk of losing them as well as exposure to bacteria and germs. If you have accidentally left them out instead of putting them in their case, simply rinse them, soak them, rinse again and then reapply them to your teeth.

 

Give us a call today for a free, initial consultation. We’re always happy to answer questions and help you decide if orthodontics is right for your family.