Invisalign treatment is a great way to straighten your teeth without wearing conspicuous traditional braces. Now, more and more people opt for clear aligners because they are almost invisible in the mouth. However, to make sure your trays stay transparent, you need to know how to take care of the aligners. Please read our article to learn several of the most important hygiene rules when undergoing Invisalign treatment.
You must wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day to achieve the results you want. However, during this time, bacteria and saliva accumulate on the aligners. If you do not properly and regularly clean your aligners, you risk developing bad breath, cavities, and gum disease since the aligners snugly cover your teeth.
Here are several steps to include in your daily hygiene routine:
Be very careful when cleaning your aligners. Brushing your aligners with toothpaste that contains abrasive particles or using a rigid brush can create micro scratches on the surface of the aligners. As a result, your aligners can become discolored or appear stained by food particles and bacteria that linger in the scratches.
The best way to deep clean your aligners is to soak them overnight in a solution specially formulated for that material. There are several solutions available on the market that are safe for the aligners. For example, you can use Invisalign brand solutions or various denture and retainer cleaners. However, we recommend consulting your dentist before choosing a cleaning solution to make sure it will not damage your aligners.
We recommend soaking your aligners in the evening, before bed, so they are free from bacteria by the time you wear them to sleep. Bacteria persist more easily when we sleep (because of decreased saliva production), so your aligners are particularly susceptible to bacteria growth throughout the night.
You should not eat or drink anything other than water when you are wearing your aligners. Drinking any other beverages will most likely result in stains on the aligners. Chewing food with the aligners will have the same adverse effect and additional drawbacks, such as warping, scratching, or cracking the aligners.
Take off your aligners before meals, rinse them, and store them in their container. Always rinse your mouth—or better, brush your teeth—after meals and before putting your aligners back into your mouth.
Thorough oral hygiene is essential when wearing aligners. As previously mentioned, the trays fit your teeth snuggly and will prevent saliva from washing away bacteria that gathers. As a result, if you do not brush and floss your teeth effectively, it will stay on your teeth under the aligners, growing and posing a risk for cavities and gum disease.
Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Dentists recommend spending at least a full 2 minutes brushing your teeth. Floss thoroughly between the teeth, making sure to remove plaque and food debris from both sides of the teeth. Dentists recommend you floss before brushing your teeth.
In addition to regular floss, consider adding a water flosser to your routine. You can either start your routine with a water flosser, then use a traditional floss and brush as the last step, or use your water flosser in between flossing and brushing. A water flosser is proven to be effective at removing plaque along the gumline and thus helps prevent gum disease.
Smile Dental Boutique provides high-quality orthodontics in Mission Viejo. Do not hesitate to sign up for a consultation today and start your journey to a great-looking smile. We look forward to welcoming you to our office.
