Invisalign braces offer the best of both worlds – the ability to straighten your smile, without the interruption of metal braces in your life. But in order to get the full benefit from them, it’s very important that you know how to clean Invisalign braces. Not cleaning them correctly can cause irreparable damage. At Dental 266 we are committed to educating and informing our patients to ensure you have the very best dental experience under our care.
What Are Invisalign Braces?
Invisible braces have been designed to complement your busy lifestyle, rather than interfere with it. While orthodontic braces do the very important work of straightening crooked teeth and aligning patients’ jaws, many patients find the experience very unpleasant.
Wearing visible braces, worrying about food getting stuck in them and how much the orthodontics affect your smile has a direct bearing on your levels of confidence. And when one considers that braces may be worn for up to 18 months, it’s counterintuitive to spend that time unhappy about how you look.
With Invisalign braces, patients have a very discreet way of correcting their smiles, so that the people around you hardly notice you are wearing the aligners.
They can also be removed, which makes brushing and flossing your teeth that much easier while having orthodontic treatment.
Why Cleaning Your Invisalign Is So Important
Invisalign braces are made from a specially manufactured type of plastic that is strong and almost invisible. Cleaning your Invisalign ensures that they stay invisible, because stains and marks will make them stand out.
One of Invisalign braces’ other major benefits is the fact that you can remove them before eating and drinking – this by itself goes a long way in ensuring that they stay relatively clean and stain-free. Knowing how to clean Invisalign according to the manufacturer’s instructions is essential to prevent them from losing shape or becoming stained.
How To Clean Invisalign
Clean your aligners twice a day
If you consider that you need to wear your aligners for 22 hours a day, it makes sense to keep them as clean as possible.
As mentioned above, always ensure that you remove your Invisalign before eating and drinking. Remember to brush and floss your teeth after eating and before replacing the aligner in your mouth. Returning your aligner to a clean mouth will keep the aligner cleaner too.
If you do not brush your teeth after eating, you can trap debris and food between the aligner and your teeth, increasing your chances of developing tooth decay.
Remember that cleanliness and good dental hygiene is not only about looks – it also influences the freshness of your breath. Keeping your teeth and Invisalign clean ensures they are free of bacteria.
Always use a soft bristled toothbrush to clean your Invisalign braces, so that you do not damage the plastic they are made from. Keep a separate toothbrush for cleaning your aligners. Always rinse them before putting them back into your mouth. Use lukewarm water to rinse, because temperatures that are too hot or too cold can cause the plastic to change shape.
Do not use toothpaste, mouthwash or any abrasive cleaning detergent on your aligners. This can cause damage and discolouration to the plastic. Some toothpaste brands also make the plastic go shiny – and thus make your aligners more noticeable.
When you remove your Invisalign braces to eat and drink, be sure to keep them in their protective case – as this will help to keep them clean. Also wash your aligner case regularly.
You will need to soak your aligners once a week in the specialised cleaning crystals from Invisalign. Make sure you follow the instructions and do not leave your aligners to soak for longer than recommended.
Not knowing how to clean Invisalign can cause damage, and/or make the aligners more noticeable in your mouth. To find out more about Invisalign and whether it is a viable option to straighten your teeth please contact us: (02) 9051 0600.