Easy Ways To Clean Invisalign Aligners

Did you just have your orthodontic treatment with Invisalign? You should have known by now that you are a step away from achieving a better, more youthful smile that will give you a boost in confidence and achieve a better outlook in life thanks to this treatment. This type of orthodontic treatment has been a popular alternative to traditional braces since it is more discreet and has a faster treatment time than the latter. Moreover, it is not attached to your mouth most of the time which means you are free to eat whatever food you like without limitations.

For these aligners to maximize its effectiveness you will need to keep it clean most of the time. Invisalign aligners are prone to bacteria buildup that can negatively affect your oral and overall health.

Further read Five reasons for invisalign treatment.

Suggested Daily Routine

Here’s what a typical day should look like for an Invisalign maintenance:

1. Brush your teeth and clean your aligners when you wake up.

Expect to be wearing your aligners while sleeping therefore a lot of bacteria will build up on it while you sleep. Cleaning them in the morning is important so that it won’t stay longer in your teeth which could cause cavities and plaque. To clean the aligners, all you have to do is brush the trays, then rinse it. Make sure your trays are clean before putting it back in your mouth.

2. Rinse your aligners whenever you remove it from your mouth.

Rinse your aligners every time you take it off your mouth. Rinsing helps to wash away bacteria and dried saliva. When you take it off, make sure to keep it in a case so that it won’t dry out or be exposed to bacteria. When rinsing your aligners, make sure to rinse only with cold water as hot water can bend it out of shape.

3. Brush and floss before you put on the trays.

The aligners will need to be removed whenever you eat or drink liquids other than water. Before you put it back in make sure your teeth are clean by brushing and flossing it first. If not, food particles and bacteria will get trapped in it which can lead to cavities and other oral health issues.

4. Soak trays every day.

For these trays to work as intended, they need to be kept moist all the time. When taking it off, make sure to soak it in a cleaning solution or denture cleaner. Do not soak it in hot water as it can get damaged. After it is soaked, use a spare toothbrush to get rid of any remaining food particles.

Read: Effectiveness of Invisalign over braces

Proper Ways to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners

Vinegar and Water

Soak the aligners in one part distilled vinegar mixed in three parts of water. Soak it for 30 minutes and make sure to rinse thoroughly so you won’t taste the vinegar when you put it back in.

Soap Solution

Mix a gentle unscented soap in warm water until suds form. Soak it in this solution for 30 minutes. Brush to remove any food particles then rinse thoroughly.

Baking Soda Solution

Combine a tablespoon of baking soda in 1/2 cup of water and mix it until it is in a consistent solution. Place the tray in this solution for 60 minutes then brush thoroughly until no residue remains.

Peroxide Solution

Mix hydrogen peroxide and water in a 50/50 solution. Soak the tray for 30 minutes in this solution then brush and rinse thoroughly before putting it back in your mouth.

Retainer Cleaner

These are the best cleaning solution for your trays as all you have to do is mix the powder or drop the tablet in water. It effectively targets bacteria and plaque which makes sure that your trays are 100% clean. The disadvantage is that these are more expensive than the options above.

Source: Treatment of deep bite malocclusions

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