The Best Way to Properly Clean Your Invisalign Aligner
Keeping your Invisalign aligners and retainers clean is so important for your oral health. The bacteria that builds up on our teeth and in our mouths throughout the day can cause serious repercussions with your smile and even though aligners are changed every couple of weeks, it’s important to clean them thoroughly while you have them.
Why Do We Need to Thoroughly Clean Invisalign Aligners Regularly?
As mentioned above, Invisalign aligners need to be cleaned thoroughly, every day, to help prevent bacterial growth and further oral health problems. The more time bacteria spend in the mouth and on the teeth the more chance for cavities to appear and tooth decay to become present, which could ultimately lead to tooth loss and other gum diseases. Not to mention discolouration of the aligners, which can make your teeth appear yellow and cause bad breath.
Best Practice for Cleaning My Invisalign Aligner
It’s not enough to simply rinse your aligner each night, although it may look cleaner after doing so, there will still be a build-up of bacteria that won’t have been removed by water alone. The cleaning routine on the Invisalign website states that you should:
- Rinse your aligners every night with water.
- Brush aligner or retainer with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a gentle, clear liquid soap, to remove food particles and debris that have accumulated during the day.
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly after brushing.
- When not in use, store your retainer or aligner in a protective case.
- Repeat in the morning after wearing over night.
Invisalign Cleaning Accessories.
There are many products that can help with keeping your Invisalign aligners clean, one of which is the Invisalign cleaning crystals. The crystals dissolve in water, in which you can soak your aligners and they contain cleansing agents, including sodium sulphate. We also recommend a mild liquid soap in cool water. Never use warm water to clean your aligners as they could distort.
How Often Should I Clean My Invisalign Aligner?
Invisalign aligners and retainers should be cleaned on a morning and nightly basis, to ensure that food and built-up bacteria are removed before you go to sleep. By doing this at the same as you would brush and floss your teeth you are putting your clean aligner or retainer back into a clean mouth, which is great for your oral health. It’s advisable to also rinse your Invisalign each time you take them off and if they appear to be dirty.
How to properly Care for your Invisalign Aligners
Alongside ensuring your Invisalign aligners are properly cleaned, it’s important to ensure you are caring for them too. Some best practices when it comes to the care of your Invisalign aligners and retainers are:
- Whilst wearing your Invisalign, refrain from drinking anything other than water, to reduce the risk of staining or damaging them.
- Remove your Invisalign before eating to ensure food particles don’t become built up in them and damage the aligners.
- Only use cool water to clean
- Use an airtight container to store them in when not in use to protect them from bacteria.
Speak to us About Your Invisalign Journey: Northenden House Orthodontics, Manchester
At Northenden House Orthodontics, Manchester, our most popular hidden brace system is Invisalign, due to their ease of use and that they are almost invisible. Invisalign is custom-made for your teeth, making them excellent at straightening crooked, gappy, or even overlapping teeth. The Invisalign aligners are wafer-thin and made of medical-grade plastic, and work by gently and gradually moving your teeth from their present position to the desired position.
If you would like to speak to us about Invisalign, contact Northenden House Orthodontics, Manchester to book or discuss an initial free consultation to find out more about Invisalign and other orthodontic treatments available.
- Mohammad Malik
