March 27, 2023
Top Tips For Maintaining Your Invisalign Aligners
Invisalign is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to straighten your teeth. Rather than wearing fixed metal braces with brackets and wires, you can wear a series of clear plastic aligners.
Invisalign is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to straighten your teeth. Rather than wearing fixed metal braces with brackets and wires, you can wear a series of clear plastic aligners.
Clean aligners and your teeth every morning
The first thing you should do in the morning is brush and floss and then clean your aligners. Bacteria will have a chance to build up on your teeth overnight, so get brushing first thing in the morning. You should also soak your aligners in a special cleaning tablet to keep them hygienically clean. Never soak your aligners in mouthwash as this will cause discolouration.
Remove them to eat and drink
Every time you eat or have a drink that isn’t plain water, you should remove your aligners. Keep them in a safe place so that you don’t misplace them. If you enjoy hot drinks like tea, coffee or hot chocolate, always remove your aligners to drink these. The heat will warp the aligners and make them less effective.
Rinse aligners every time you remove them
Before you replace your aligners after a meal or a drink, always give them a quick rinse. This will help to remove any saliva or food debris from your teeth which may be lurking on them. It will also prevent your aligners from developing a bad taste.
Soak your trays daily
Your aligners need to be hygienically cleaned at least once a day. Many people choose to do this morning and night. You can purchase specialist retainer tray cleaning tablets or crystals which can be dissolved in water.
Once the tablet or crystals have dissolved, add your trays and leave them for around 15 minutes. Always rinse your trays before putting them back in your mouth.
If you don’t have access to your cleaning tablets or crystals, you can also use a denture-cleaning tablet. If these are unavailable, you can soak your trays in water and then brush them your toothbrush. This isn’t advised as a long-term solution, but it will help to get your trays clean if you are unable to access your usual cleaning solution.
Let your dentist know if you lose a tray
It’s very easy to misplace an Invisalign tray, especially if you remove them to eat while you are out and about. Don’t feel embarrassed if you are missing a tray. Instead, get in touch with your dentist right away so that your treatment plan doesn’t fall off track.
Skipping a step in the Invisalign treatment process can cause problems. This is why it’s important to let your dentist know if you lose a tray. You cannot skip to the next tray as your teeth won’t be ready for it yet. Instead, contact your dentist and confirm the next steps before moving forward.
Some things to avoid
There is plenty of terrible advice online about how to care for your aligners. While some of the advice is just pointless, some suggestions could damage your aligners and make them less effective. Avoid the following Invisalign care tips you may see online:
- Never soak your aligners in mouthwash, this can cause discolouration.
- Never put your aligners in hot or warm water, as this can warp the plastic.
- Never wash your aligners with toothpaste, scented soap or coloured soap. This can damage the aligners, cause discolouration and leave a bad taste in your mouth.
- Never leave your aligners out in the open. If you aren't wearing them, they should either be in a storage case or soaking in water.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Invisalign and teeth straightening options with Bhandal Dental Practice, get in touch today!
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