Like millions of other patients, you might have been drawn to Invisalign because of the clear, practically invisible aligners. Of course, if you start to adopt some not-so-great habits, like keeping them on while you drink your morning coffee, they will quickly stain and smell. To prevent that from happening, read on to learn how to take care of your clear aligners!
1. Use the Right Products to Clean Your Trays
It’s important that you clean your trays consistently. However, if you use the wrong products, you could end up doing more harm than good. After all, toothpaste can leave scratches on the surface, scented soaps can leave behind residue, and bleach contains toxins that are not safe to ingest. That’s why it’s important to stick to your orthodontist’s recommendations!
2. Rinse Your Aligners with Water When You Take Them Off
When you take your aligners out, they will be coated in saliva. So, make sure that you rinse them with clean water! It’s also important that you use cold or room-temperature water instead of hot water. Otherwise, the aligners will warp, leaving them virtually useless.
3. Soak Your Trays Each Morning or Evening
To give your aligners a deeper clean (and make sure there isn’t any debris in the nooks and crannies), you should get in the habit of soaking them in an orthodontist-recommended cleaner each day. Doing so in the morning while you eat breakfast or at night while you enjoy your dinner will make meeting the 20+ hour-a-day wear time much easier.
4. Use Your Aligner Case, Not a Napkin
When you take your aligners out – whether it’s to eat or brush your teeth – don’t get in the habit of putting your aligners on the counter or wrapping them in a napkin. Instead, rinse them off and place them in their designated case. This will help prevent them from getting damaged, thrown away, or misplaced.
5. Don’t Eat or Drink Anything with Your Aligners In
It might be tempting to drink a smoothie or sip on your morning coffee with your aligners in. However, this will quickly lead to pigmented stains. Plus, keeping your aligners on increases the chances of tooth decay developing, which you want to avoid.
About the Practice
For our team at Simply Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, customized orthodontic care is just the beginning. To make the road to a straight smile as comfortable, smooth, and stress-free as possible, we also offer convenient appointment times and welcome several financial solutions. Plus, we have an affordable “Retainers for Life” program, which makes preserving your hard-earned results easy too! To schedule a consultation with our Nashua team, visit our website or call (603) 880-5002.