Are you an adult who’s ready to start your Invisalign treatment and get straighter teeth? If so, you’re not alone since around one million American adults use some form of orthodontic treatment.
But before you start wearing your aligners, you should learn how to clean Invisalign retainers so that you keep them in good condition and avoid staining. Keeping your trays clean will also reduce the chance of getting cavities during treatment.
Read on for five tips on how to keep clean Invisalign trays as well as practice good habits.
1. Stay Away from Staining Foods and Drinks
One of the things to know before getting Invisalign is that you should only drink water when wearing your aligners. Avoid drinking wine, juice, soda, coffee, or other staining beverages without removing the aligners.
Also, remember to take the aligners out anytime you eat. This includes even healthy foods like vegetables and fruits. Brush your teeth to prevent stains when you put the aligners back in.
2. Gently Clean Your Aligners With Soap and Water
Whenever you remove your aligners, you should rinse them right away when possible with water alone. This will keep saliva from drying on them while they’re sitting out.
Before you put them back in after eating or drinking, use a toothbrush and carefully brush your aligners with mild soap and water. Also, brush and floss your teeth before you put the Invisalign back in. Otherwise, residue may stain the aligners or even cause cavities.
3. Soak Your Aligners in Retainer Cleaner
When you feel your aligners need a deeper clean, put them in a container with some retainer cleaner. This kind of orthodontic appliance cleaner will mix with water and become sudsy to refresh your aligners within around 10 to 15 minutes.
You might consider doing this once a day such as during dinner. However, you can safely use the cleaner as often as you wish.
4. Avoid Using Toothpaste and Mouthwash to Clean Your Aligners
If your aligners have an unpleasant odor or stubborn stains, you might feel tempted to grab some toothpaste and brush your aligners or throw them in a container with mouthwash.
However, toothpaste is abrasive and can damage your aligners. Mouthwash, on the other hand, may include dyes that can stain your retainers and ingredients like alcohol that can wear down the plastic.
5. Get Invisalign’s Special Cleaning Kit
If you want an all-in-one cleaning system for your aligners, Invisalign makes a set that will last for 50 weeks. It uses special cleaning crystals that get rid of odors and prevent stains. You’ll also get a cleaning tub where you’ll soak the aligners for 15 minutes.
Now You Know How to Clean Invisalign Trays
Knowing these tips on how to clean Invisalign retainers and use good practices will help you have a better treatment experience. After all, you need these aligners to stay clean and undamaged for one to two weeks!
Be sure to also follow your dentist’s like this Dentist in La Habra or orthodontist’s advice on wearing your aligners. You can also ask for more advice on cleaning them if you find your aligners get stained unusually often.
Since you now know key tips on how to clean Invisalign trays, check out our other post that explains the benefits of Invisalign versus regular braces.