One of the most important aspects about Invisalign aligners is that they need to be cleaned. Even if you want to remove aligners after a few weeks, you still have to clean them. Something else that might affect the future processing, you will wear a silly and stinky pair of aligners.
If you do not properly care for your Invisalign aligners, you may have bacterial development, which causes odors, aligner decoloration, and harms the health of your teeth. These aligners, like your teeth, must be cleaned on a daily basis to ensure that you receive the best possible treatment.
Suggested Daily Routine
Here’s what a typical day should look like for an Invisalign maintenance:
- Clean your aligners everyday
It is assumed that you will sleep with your aligners on. Many bacteria grow while you sleep, so it’s critical that they’re cleaned up when you wake up. The first thing you should do when you get up is clean your mouth to get rid of the bacteria. Before you put the trays in your mouth, make sure they are clean. - When you take your aligners out of your mouth, rinse them.
Rinse your invisible aligners whenever you remove them. The rinse washes away the dry saliva. Always transport them in a case to prevent them from drying out or becoming contaminated with bacteria. Warmer temperatures may warp and bend the trays, therefore cold water rinses are preferable. - Brush and use dental floss before you put on the trays. When eating or drinking, you should take them off. Before you replace it, remember to brush and floss your teeth. Cleaning your teeth removes bacteria and food particles that have become trapped between your teeth. If not removed, they might cause cavities and other health issues.
- Soak trays every day. The easiest way to ensure it works is to soak the cleaning crystals or denture cleaners. Do not immerse the trays in boiling water as this may cause damage. After soaking, use a spare toothbrush to remove any remaining food particles.
Proper Ways to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners
Vinegar and Water
Combine three parts water and one part white distilled vinegar. Before brushing, soak and rinse for around 20 minutes. Rinse well to avoid a vinegar aftertaste.
Soap Solution
Put a gentle, unscented soap in the warm water and stir until suds develop. Soak in the solution for around 30 minutes. Brush and rinse it before putting it in your mouth.
Baking Soda Solution
Mix a tablespoon of baking soda into 1/2 cup of water until it forms a uniform consistency. After sixty minutes in the solution, vigorously brush the trays until there is no residue. Baking soda contains the active ingredient used in the purification or whitening of sodium bicarbonate.
Peroxide Solution
Mix the same quantities of hydrogen peroxide and water and then soak the trays for 30 minutes. Put it completely in your mouth and rinse before placing.
Retainer Cleaner
These cleaners come in the form of tablets or powder that must be dissolved in water. It is an effective cleaning product that targets teeth plaque and bacteria. In the end, the choices listed above are more expensive.
Sources:
- Papadimitriou A, Mousoulea S, Gkantidis N, Kloukos D. Clinical effectiveness of Invisalign® orthodontic treatment: a systematic review. Prog Orthod. 2018;19(1):37. Published 2018 Sep 28. doi:10.1186/s40510-018-0235-z
- Long-term effects of different cleaning methods on copolyester retainer properties Emily Wible; Manika Agarwal; Sibel Altun; Tyler Ramir; Grace Viana; Carla Evans; Henry Lukic; Spiro Megremis; Phimon Atsawasuwan Angle Orthod (2019) 89 (2): 221–227.
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