Keeping your Invisalign aligners clean is an important task that patients must responsibly do on a daily basis. Dr. Hisham Badawi and the Smile Elements team offer several dos and don’ts of cleaning aligners to help you with this task. You will be wearing your aligners every day for 12 to 18 months. Learning how to clean aligners helps keep your mouth and teeth clean as well.
Invisalign is a clear removable series of aligner trays that gradually shift teeth into proper alignment, fixing problems such as overcrowding, gaps between teeth, crookedness, crossbite, underbite, and overbite.
The aligners are made with multiple layers of medical-grade plastic with rounded edges to make them as comfortable as possible in your mouth. You will wear the aligners for 22 hours a day and switch to a new set every two weeks to begin a new stage of shifting. The length of treatment depends on the severity of your problem and whether you consistently wear and take care of your aligners.
You must clean your aligners to prevent the growth of bacteria on the inside and outside. Bacteria can cause cavities, gum disease, and possible infection, which will require additional treatment. It can also give you bad breath. Not cleaning your aligners can result in stains as well, which means your nearly invisible treatment will no longer be nearly invisible.
The best way to keep your aligners clean is to clean them every chance you get throughout the day. One of the best times to clean them is when you remove them to eat a meal or snack.
In addition, you should clean your aligners in the morning after you wake up and at night before you go to bed. This may be a slight inconvenience, but it’s a low price to pay since Invisalign doesn’t affect your lifestyle nearly as much as traditional braces.
Keeping your aligners clean allows them to work at maximum effectiveness, which could result in a shorter treatment time.
Thankfully, there are many different methods you can choose from to clean your aligners that orthodontists, including Dr. Hisham Badawi, recommend.
Steraligner works in minutes, making it a perfect cleaning solution for those who are constantly on the go or don’t have too much time to spend on cleaning at a given moment. Thoroughly soak your aligners in a dish of the solution for 3-5 minutes, rinse, and put them back on.
If you have more time to spare to clean your aligners, cleaning tablets in a cup of warm water is also an effective cleaning method. Just soak your aligners for approximately 30 minutes before removing, rinsing, and resuming treatment.
One of the best on-the-go cleaners available on the market, one pump of WhiteFoam cleaner up to six times a day keeps your aligners nice and sanitary. Cover your aligners inside and out with the foam and put them back in your mouth. Spit out any excess foam.
The top choice of Invisalign users is Invisalign Cleaning Crystals, a cleaning solution made specifically for your aligners by the company that manufactures them. This is a soaking solution similar to cleaning tablets, but you are mixing crystals in water instead. However, unlike tablets, cleaning crystals takes about 15 minutes to clean your aligners.
Brush OAP Gel and Foam is an option for those who prefer a product made from natural ingredients to clean their aligners. Brush the gel and foam on your aligners and wait about 60 seconds before rinsing.
A home remedy to use for cleaning your aligners is a teaspoon of baking soda and soaking them in vinegar and warm water for 30 minutes. Baking soda can cause damage to your aligners, so don’t leave them in the solution for too long and only use this method sparingly.
Use a soft toothbrush to gently brush every nook and cranny of your aligners and rinse with warm water.
One of the most cost-effective methods to clean your aligners is hydrogen peroxide. Mix two teaspoons of peroxide in a half cup of warm water and soak the aligners for 20 minutes. Rinse with soap and water after taking them out.
Antibacterial dishes or hand soap with no scent and colour are perfect for cleaning your aligners. Apply the soap gently using a soft brush or cloth, and then rinse thoroughly.
Never use the following methods to clean your aligners, or you will damage them, which will result in setbacks to your treatment.
Do pack a cleaning kit to carry with you so you can clean your aligners anywhere you go.
Don’t use your aligners as a mouthguard when playing sports. Use an actual mouthguard. Also, don’t leave your aligners out in the open. It comes with a case to put them in when you are not using them. This is the best way to prevent damaging or losing them.
You can remove stains using either the baking soda and vinegar or the hydrogen peroxide methods mentioned above. You can prevent staining by brushing your teeth after every meal before putting your aligners back in your mouth.
Smile Elements is a certified Invisalign provider in Calgary. Dr. Hisham Badawi has years of experience treating patients using Invisalign and is ready to help you now. Please don’t hesitate to call to learn more about how to clean aligners. To make an appointment or schedule a complimentary consultation, call our office at 403-730-6400 or visit our website today!
