Clear, virtually undetectable aligners are one of the biggest selling points of Invisalign. After all, who wouldn’t want to achieve a gorgeous smile without the noticeable brackets and uncomfortable wires? The good news is that keeping your trays clean and clear won’t take a lot of time or effort either. With this in mind, read on to learn how to take care of your Invisalign aligners easily!
1. Remove Your Aligners Before Eating or Drinking Anything
With the exception of water, you need to take your aligners off before eating or drinking anything. This is important because – if you don’t – they will warp and stain, negatively impacting their look and function. Of course, meeting the 20-22 hour-a-day wear-time goal is still as important as ever, so make sure to put your trays back on shortly after.
2. Rinse Your Trays When You Take Them Off
When you remove your aligners, take a few moments to rinse them off in clean water. This will prevent saliva, plaque, and other debris from sitting on the surface until you clean them. Just make sure to check the temperature of the water first; if it’s too hot, it can damage your trays!
3. Store Your Aligners in Their Designated Case
Whether you’re at breakfast with family, at lunch with a client, or at dinner with friends, you need to store your aligners in their designated storage case. Do NOT wrap them in a napkin, leave them out on the table, or toss them in your purse. After all, these are a few of the most common ways patients misplace or break their trays!
4. Clean Your Trays Twice a Day
When you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed at night, you should clean your aligners thoroughly. That involves using clean, cool water and a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub the entire surface. If you want to give them a deeper clean, then ask your dentist if you can use a clear, mild dishwashing liquid or toothpaste as well.
5. Use the Invisalign Cleaning Crystals as Needed
Your Invisalign welcome kit will come with a few things, including several packets of cleaning crystals. To use them, fill a clean container with lukewarm water. Then, add the crystals and gently shake the container so they start to dissolve. Gently place your aligners in the mixture, allow them to soak for 10-20 minutes, and rinse them off with clean, cool water.
