Invisalign is a great way to discreetly straighten teeth and have the smile of your dreams in less time than conventional braces. However, although both braces and Invisalign straighten teeth, they do have different requirements for care.
So how can you take the best care of your Invisalign clear aligners throughout your treatment? Follow the tips below to keep your aligners in tip-top shape!
Clean Your Aligners Daily
Although individual treatment plans will vary, generally, Invisalign aligners are worn between 20-22 hours each day. That’s a lot of time for aligners to accumulate bacteria and plaque, just like your teeth! Therefore, it’s essential to clean your aligners every day to keep them clean.
Be sure to rinse aligners with cool water, never hot, as hot water can cause aligners to warp to the point that they won’t fit comfortably in your mouth anymore. To brush your aligners, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of non-abrasive toothpaste to gently brush them. You can brush them twice a day, just like your teeth.
If you want a clean that’s a bit more intense than brushing, you can also use aligner cleaning products from Invisalign, including Invisalign Cleaning Crystals and Invisalign Aligner Cleaning Foam. For best results, brushing your aligners and using a soaking system is recommended [1].
Remove Aligners When Eating (And Sometimes Drinking)
Your Invisalign aligners should always be removed when eating food. Eating with your aligners in won’t just be uncomfortable—it can damage the aligners.
It may also be necessary to remove aligners when drinking as well. The only liquid you should consume while wearing Invisalign is water. If you are drinking anything else, especially a colored beverage, such as coffee, it’s imperative to remove your aligners [2]. This is because colors can stain the aligners, which can lead your teeth to look a different color while wearing them!
Along that line, you should also avoid cleaning your aligners with any soaps or toothpastes that have dyes in them, as these can stain aligners as well.
Rinse and Store Your Aligners in Their Proper Container
When you are not wearing or cleaning your aligners, such as while eating, be sure to rinse them after removing them and store them in their proper container.
Storing Invisalign correctly is essential because it allows the aligners to be clean, protected and safe for when you need to put them back in again. Your Invisalign case also has a unique design that allows for airflow inside the container, which helps reduce bacterial growth on the aligners.
Rinsing is also important as it will help remove bacteria and plaque from your aligners before storing them, so rinse with cool water before popping them in their case.
Keep Your Aligners in Great Shape
Although you will change aligners frequently, keeping each set of Invisalign aligners in good shape is important because it will help ensure a comfortable and accurate fit throughout the duration of your treatment. This way, your teeth will move into their proper positions, and you will stay on track with your treatment!
Sources:
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26719726/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5168413/
