Maintaining a cleaning routine for your Invisalign trays is important, not only for preserving your oral health, but also for ensuring the success of your teeth-straightening journey. Avoiding proper care could lead to a buildup of harmful bacteria and plaque, potentially causing cavities and gum disease, which could derail your treatment progress.
In the following sections, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on the best practices to keep your Invisalign trays in pristine condition. By following these straightforward yet effective steps, you can enjoy a clean and healthy smile throughout your Invisalign treatment, ultimately achieving the desired results in the most efficient manner possible.
1. Create Your Daily Routine Around It
It’s crucial to clean your Invisalign trays every single day throughout your treatment. To make matters easier for you, it’s best to create a daily routine and build the rest of the schedule around it to ensure you follow each step.
Your routine will start in the morning, right after you brush your teeth, and end at night. But during the day, you will also have some cleaning and maintenance steps to follow.
2. Gather Your Tools
You only need to clean your Invisalign trays once, preferably at night before bed, to scrub away all the food particles and bacteria that have accumulated.
You should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a gentle liquid soap, preferably clear, but you can also find Invisalign-specific cleaning solutions. A soft-bristled toothbrush will prevent you from scratching the aligners, while the clear soap will reduce the risk of staining.
Brush your trays using circular motions, both inside and out, and rinse thoroughly in cold water before you place them back in your mouth.
3. Rinse Before You Put Them Back In
First, it’s best to keep your Invisalign in their special case every time you take them out, even if it’s for just a few minutes. But before you put them all in, rinse them in some cold water for a few seconds to remove anything they could have picked up from the case or your fingers.
4. Never Eat or Drink with Them
If you want to keep your Invisalign in top condition, then you should take them out every time you eat or drink anything other than clear water.
This helps prevent staining and exposes your trays to heat.
5. Only Wash or Rinse with Cold Water
Invisalign is made from a special type of plastic that can comfortably reposition your teeth. But plastic is plastic, and it can warp when exposed to heat, such as hot water or food.
If this happens, it could mean your Invisalign trays won’t fit anymore, in which case you may need to backtrack or wait for another set to be made.
Interested in Invisalign? We Can Help!
Want to learn if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign? Come see Dr. Adam Lamprecht for a short consultation to discover your best options for getting a straight and healthy smile.
To get started, request an appointment at Fremont Family Dentistry online or call our office at (402) 721-0488 to learn more about our services.