How to Clean Invisalign®

Maintaining your Invisalign® aligners and keeping them in a pristine and hygienic condition is essential when it comes to the success of your treatment and maintaining your level of oral health throughout this time. ‍

Throughout this blog, our expert dental professionals share how to best clean your Invisalign® aligner trays and ensure they stay in excellent shape.

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How often should you clean Invisalign® aligners?

Our dentists recommend cleaning your Invisalign® aligners twice daily - usually whenever you brush your teeth. This will remove any trapped food in your aligner before you slot them over your freshly cleaned pearly whites - after all, you wouldn’t take a shower and wear dirty clothes straight after, would you?

So, how exactly should you go about cleaning them?

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How do you clean Invisalign® aligners?

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1. Rinsing

First of all, whenever you remove your plastic aligner trays, you should always give them a rinse under lukewarm water to remove saliva, food, and plaque gunk that’s built up throughout the day.

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2. Brushing

After rinsing thoroughly, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and antibacterial soap or mild toothpaste to scrub the inside and outside of the aligners gently. 

Be careful not to use abrasive toothpaste as this could scratch the plastic and cause gum irritation and a cloudy appearance to the aligners, reducing the discreteness of Invisalign®.

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3. Soaking

For a deeper and more intense clean, you can soak your plastic trays in Invisalign® Cleaning Crystals. Soaking the aligners helps to eliminate odours or any stains or bacteria that may have accumulated, leaving it looking and feeling fresh and clean.

If you’ve never tried them before, you may be wondering how to use Invisalign® cleaning crystals, but it’s actually very simple.

You should leave each tray in the solution for around 20 minutes before removing and thoroughly rinsing with cold or lukewarm water. 

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4. Brush your teeth before putting your aligner back in 

As mentioned earlier, always clean and floss your teeth before reinserting your Invisalign® trays. If you don’t, food particles may become trapped around your teeth for longer, potentially leading to tooth decay. 

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How To Clean Invisalign® Retainers

Cleaning your Invisalign® retainers, which you wear after treatment to stop your teeth shifting, is easy, as you clean them the same way you would your regular aligners.

Preventive care for aligners

Only by properly caring for your Invisalign® aligners can you hope to achieve the straighter smile you’ve always dreamt of. If the plastic trays become damaged or warped, they won’t work as they should, leading to poor or slow results.

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Keep in mind these points to keep your aligners in their optimum condition:

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- Don’t clean them with hot water - as they’re made from plastic, this can distort their shape, which may cause discomfort and inadequate alignment.

- Remove them when eating - bite forces can damage the plastic trays and food debris could become trapped if you eat before removing your aligners.

- Only drink water when wearing them - To keep your Invisalign® aligners free from staining, avoid drinks such as coffee, tea, and sugary drinks. These drinks can also lead to tooth decay if they get trapped in the clear trays.

- Keep them in a container when not using them - leaving your Invisalign® braces lying around could result in breakages or them getting covered in dust. Keep them in a secure container to protect them from damage and dust particles.

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Speak to our team about Invisalign® today

Don’t neglect your Invisalign® cleaning routine! Maintaining your Invisalign® aligners is vital for ensuring good dental hygiene and outstanding straightening results!

At Riverside Dental, we’re the first and only Invisalign® diamond provider in Norwich, so you can trust us to help you fulfil your smile goals.

Visit our Invisalign® page or contact us online for more information, and our reception team will help you out!

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