One of the many great aspects of wearing Invisalign is how discreet it is. Your decision to choose clear aligners may be because you want a straighter smile without bringing additional attention to your treatment. However, while this may be your intention in the beginning, it’s important that you do not waver over time if you want to ensure the health and “invisibility” of your braces. Keep reading to learn how the following tips can help you take better care of your Invisalign.
Clean Your Trays Each Morning
The moment you wake up, you’ll want to make sure that you remove your aligners and not only give your teeth and gums a thorough brushing but also remove any bacteria from your trays. This includes using a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear soap to clear away any dried saliva that may have accumulated throughout the night.
You do not want debris from your teeth to transfer to your aligners, so performing a comprehensive cleaning of your mouth and aligners at the same time is most beneficial.
Allow Your Aligners to Soak
Once a day, you’ll need to let your aligners soak in a specialized solution. You can use Invisalign Cleaning Crystals or a denture cleaner, but this step helps to eradicate any remaining bacteria that exists on your trays. Since this does not take much time, you’ll want to remove them from the solution and thoroughly brush and rinse them before reinserting your aligners into your mouth.
Keep Your Trays Protected
When you are not wearing your aligners (while eating or drinking), you’ll need to make sure they are properly stored in a protective case. The reason is that trays can be easily thrown away or lost if you’re not careful. Instead of wrapping them up in a napkin or slipping them into your purse, keep a protective case on hand so that your aligners are not exposed to harmful bacteria in the air and do not get lost while you’re enjoying a meal with family and friends.
Avoid Using Colored Soaps to Clean Your Trays
Clear hand soap is one of the best solutions you can use to clean your Invisalign trays, as it is unscented and contains no color. Using anything else has the potential to stain your aligners, causing them to be more visible over time.
The same is true with regular toothpaste. Many of the products found on drugstore shelves are highly abrasive and can scratch the plastic material. This will result in others noticing your braces.
While these are only a few of the many tips you can follow to better maintain your Invisalign aligners, you can trust that by following them, you will continue to enjoy a more discreet form of treatment and a healthier smile.
About the Authors
Dr. Joyce Warwick and Dr. John Warwick have more than 60 years of combined experience helping patients achieve healthier, more beautiful smiles. Offering an array of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic services, they also pride themselves on the ability to treat misaligned teeth using Invisalign. With these clear, plastic aligners serving as a viable alternative to metal braces, we invite you or your loved one to contact us at (412) 391-1130 and discover how you can achieve a straighter smile more discreetly.