When wearing Invisalign throughout the day, the aligners will collect plaque just like your teeth. It’s important to have a good hygiene and aligner cleaning routine to keep them looking their best.
Luckily, keeping your aligners clean is very simple if you use the following methods as a part of your oral hygiene routine.
(1) Clean your aligners at least once a day
There is a difference between cleaning and rinsing. Rinsing your aligners removes debris and makes them appear slightly cleaner. Cleaning your aligners addresses the unseen bacteria that can build up.
Brushing your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle, clear liquid soap to clean them at least once a day. Then simply rinse them when finished. This is the simplest and easiest way to clean your Invisalign trays. You are already going to brush your own teeth, just add your aligner trays to the routine!
(2) Rinse your aligners every time you remove them
Besides your daily cleaning routine, you should also rinse your aligners every time you remove them. This will remove any large food debris after eating and prevent plaque from building up. It keeps your aligner looking clean as well.
(3) Soak your aligners once a day
To keep your Invisalign trays looking and smelling their best, it is worthwhile to soak them at least once a day. You can use denture cleaner or Invisalign soaking crystals for relatively clean aligners. Simply mix and dissolve some of your chosen cleaning agent in lukewarm water. Soak the aligner trays for 10-15 minutes then rinse thoroughly with water. Brushing the trays while doing your rinse will help remove any caked on food or plaque.
How can you clean your Invisalign aligners without damaging them?
There are some cleaning habits that can damage your Invisalign aligners. Be sure to avoid these three things to keep your trays in good shape.
(1) Don’t use hot water
The warmth will change the shape of the plastic aligners and they might not fit properly anymore! Always use cold water or room temperature water.
(2) Don’t use toothpaste
Most toothpastes have an abrasive ingredient (usually silica) to help remove stains from teeth. Using toothpaste will create fine scratches on Invisalign aligners that will make them get stained even easier. For proper cleaning, gently brush them with a soft bristled toothbrush with clear liquid hand soap.
(3) Don’t use baking soda
Baking soda is very abrasive and will cause scratches on your trays. This is the same idea as not using toothpaste to avoid scratching your trays.
