Have you recently had Invisalign treatment? Great! You’re on your way toward transforming your smile into a smile you’ve always wanted. Now for the most important part, which is how to clean Invisalign. To get the best results for your smile, you need to look after your clear aligners. By following the instructions clearly, looking after them will be clear as day.
Let’s guide you through the dos and don’ts of Invisalign:
The Do’s
Here are things you should do to clean Invisalign:
Brush and Floss Your Teeth
When wearing Invisalign, you want to wear the aligners when your teeth are clean. It is also important that when you take your aligners off, you need to ensure you brush and floss before you put them back in. If you don’t do this, the aligners can get in touch with food deposits. These deposits can continue to grow and cause dental cavities.
Soak The Aligners
Keep the aesthetic appearance of your aligners in check by soaking your aligners at least once a day. To do this, fill a small bowl with half warm water and half hydrogen peroxide. Soak the aligners for a few hours into the bowl overnight. You will notice if your aligners are dirty because the material becomes “cloudy”. Keep them clean by soaking them. Denture cleaner can also be used as an alternative.
Stop Staining Your Teeth
If you’re a regular coffee drinker, then you’re inviting tannins onto your teeth. Tannins are organic compounds that are responsible for staining as they attract sugars, carbohydrates and enzymes in the mouth that causes them to stick on your enamel, causing your tooth shade to darken. Therefore, be smart about your food and drink choices and avoid regularly consuming dark options.
Avoid Regular Snacking
You need to wear the aligners for 22 hours a day, and if you take them out for longer than this to regularly snack, then you’re not following the treatment plan properly. The activity of wearing Invisalign must be maintained according to guidelines set by your dentist to feel the effectiveness of your results.
The Don’ts
Avoid doing the following things which can impact the expected results of your aligners:
Don’t Leave The Aligners Out
You need to store the aligners in a case or a container when they’re not in use. If you leave them out anywhere, they’re likely to attract dirty particles from the air, which can cause bacteria build-up. Your aligners are also at greater risk of getting damaged at any time.
Don’t Wear Your Aligners Just At Home
The aligners aren’t designed just for when you’re at home. If you’re going away on holiday, you need to take the aligners with you so that you’re continuing to follow the treatment plan. Therefore, take your aligners with you. Not doing this can disrupt your treatment.
Don’t Eat With Your Aligners In
You should avoid eating and drinking with the aligners inside of your mouth. Although, you may drink water with them. The aligners are not as robust to withstand you chewing and biting down on food. Food can get caught in the aligners and build bacteria and dental plaque on your teeth. Always take out your aligners before you eat, and make sure they’re cleaned before you put them back in the mouth.
Don’t Skip Your Treatment
It is important that you follow the treatment plan according to the guidelines set out by your dentist. Skipping aspects of your treatment by jumping ahead to the next set of trays to complete your treatment quicker will simply mean not getting the right results for your smile that you want. If you lose your aligners, then consult your dentist as soon as possible to get the right advice and next steps.
If you follow these do’s and don’ts with Invisalign, you’ll not only get the best results for your smile, but you’re also following the best methods to clean Invisalign. The smile you’ve always wanted is on its way!
If you’re interested in Invisalign treatment, consult your dentist for an appointment today!