You and the Mountain View Orthodontics team decided the Invisalign® system would effectively straighten your teeth. Now, it's time to review essential tips for keeping the aligners clean. By following these 6 tips, you won't discolor the trays, and you'll avoid a buildup of bacteria that could cause an odor and affect your oral health.
Maintaining your Invisalign® Trays
We’ve designed these easy-to-follow 6 tips to support your daily use of the Invisalign® system.
1) Start your day by cleaning the Invisalign® trays and brushing your teeth. This routine will become a good step toward keeping your new smile healthy. Even with clean teeth before sleep, bacteria can develop on the trays.
2) Each time you remove your aligners to eat or drink, rinse them with cool water before putting them back on your teeth. Rinsing prevents plaque and saliva from sticking to the trays. If you notice stuck-on particles, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle motions to remove debris and to keep the aligners clean and unscratched. Don’t use hot water, since it can affect the shape of the trays, and don’t use toothpaste which can stain or scratch the surfaces.
3) Throughout the day, avoid drinking any beverages like coffee, tea, red (and some white) wines, colored sodas or waters while wearing your aligners. You’ve chosen Invisalign® in part because the system is less visible than metal braces. If you stain a set of trays early in the two-week wear cycle, you'll lose the benefit of 'invisibility.' Mountain View Orthodontics recommends moving the trays before eating or drinking.
4) Before putting the Invisalign® trays back into your mouth, brush, and floss your teeth. You'll maintain the health of your gums and teeth, and importantly, you’ll prevent food particles from becoming trapped between your teeth and the aligners.
5) At day’s end, set aside time to soak the Invisalign® trays for 15 to 30 minutes to keep them odor-free, clean, and bright. Online advice advocates using denture cleansers or mouthwash for soaking. These products can damage your trays. Instead, use a retainer-cleaning product like Retainer Brite, DentaSoak, or EverSmile WhiteFoam that removes any foggy or white buildup from clear trays. You may also use a mixture of equal parts white distilled vinegar and lukewarm tap water. Our team at Mountain View Orthodontics suggests using Invisalign® Cleaning Crystals formulated for the Invisalign® trays. Rinse the aligners in lukewarm water before placing them back into your mouth.
6) Whenever you’re not wearing the trays, store them in the Invisalign® case. Open-air exposes the aligners to bacteria and risks loss or damage. If you do leave the trays out of the case, we recommend soaking them for 10-15 minutes and rinsing before wearing them.
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