How To Care For Invisalign Aligners

Invisalign is a virtually invisible orthodontic treatment that gives you the freedom to remove your aligners at will. Of course, with more freedom comes more responsibility! Proper cleaning and caring for Invisalign is the key to beautiful, long-lasting smile results.

Here are some simple tips on how to clean Invisalign and how best to care for your aligners.

How To Clean Invisalign Aligners

One of the biggest perks of Invisalign aligners is that they can be removed while eating or drinking, allowing you to eat or drink whatever you want!

However, proper dental hygiene is crucial when wearing aligners, as tiny food particles may get in your aligners and teeth. When left unchecked, these particles can start to smell, discolor your aligners, cause plaque buildup on the teeth, or cause tooth decay in the future.

Luckily, cleaning Invisalign is easy, quick, and only adds a few more steps to your dental hygiene routine. Aligners should be cleaned when you brush your teeth, in the morning and evening. All you need is a toothbrush, gel toothpaste, and a cleaning solution made for your aligners.

Here’s how to properly clean your aligners:

Give your aligners a rinse with lukewarm water. Never use hot water, as this can warp your aligners.
Using gentle, circular motions, carefully brush your aligners. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies!
Give them another rinse in lukewarm water.
There are several good cleaning solutions for aligners. Efferdent denture cleanser is an effective Invisalign cleaner, and it’s easily available at the drugstore. Retainer Brite works similarly to Efferdent and can be ordered online. Invisalign also has a cleaning system called “Steraligner” that comes with a tray, rubbing alcohol, and sodium bicarbonate. Just put the sterilizing solution in the tray, submerge your aligners, and soak them for 3 minutes. Finally, rinse your aligners again with lukewarm water. Now you’ve got squeaky clean aligners! Another very effective cleaning agent is antibacterial hand soap. Again, be sure to rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Caring For Your Invisalign Aligners

Cleaning is only one part of caring for Invisalign. The ability to remove your aligners is a great benefit of Invisalign, but this also means they can be misplaced or broken. Always put your aligners back in their case to ensure that they don’t get lost or damaged! Also, make sure that you take your aligner case with you wherever you go. If you need a spare please let us know.

It’s also important to refrain from eating or drinking anything (other than water) while wearing Invisalign. This causes food particle buildup and potential staining. Also, just as hot water can distort your aligners, so can coffee, tea, or other hot drinks. You’ll also want to avoid using mouthwash on your aligners, as this can stain them too.

During the day, when removing your aligners to eat and drink, it’s always a good idea to rinse your mouth out and rinse your aligners afterward. This reduces the amount of bacteria or debris that gets stuck in between your teeth and aligners.

Let Us Help You Protect Your Invisalign Investment

Invisalign is a discreet and simple way to give you an aligned smile. However, it’s important to remember that proper cleaning and care of your aligners will help you protect your investment. With just a few simple changes to our daily routine, you’ll be on your way to a beautiful smile! If you have any further questions about how to care for Invisalign, contact our office!

It’s always a good time to think about improving your smile. If you’re curious about whether Invisalign is right for you, come visit our office for a complimentary consultation. Dr. Mary Cay and her terrific team can’t wait to give you the smile you’ve been dreaming of!