Tips for Taking Care of Your Invisalign Trays

With Invisalign®, you don’t have to deal with braces. With this revolutionary system, you are given a series of clear, removable aligners, each slightly adjusted to go from your current alignment to your perfect alignment. 

Every two weeks or so, you switch out one set with the next in the series, and by the time you take out the last set, you have the smile of your dreams. Sounds simple, right? It is. But, in order to get the most benefit out of your treatment, you need to take good care of your aligners.

It may not be something you previously thought much about, but Invisalign trays require some regular maintenance in order to do the most good. In this blog, Dana Samet, DDS, of Dental Art of South Bay, explains when and how you should clean your trays.

Rinse your trays after eating and drinking

One of the advantages of Invisalign is you can take out your aligners to eat and drink. That’s not an option with braces. But although you can eat whatever you want after you take out your aligners, you do need to rinse them after eating and drinking.

This step is important, because bacteria left on your teeth after eating and drinking can become trapped in your teeth, which can then transfer to your Invisalign trays. This bacteria can lead to cavities and tooth decay.

Clean your Invisalign trays twice a day

You probably already know that you need to brush and floss your teeth twice a day to keep your mouth healthy. You also need to clean your aligners twice a day to keep them clean.

For the easiest solution, you can buy Invisalign’s cleaning system. However, you can achieve similar results by cleaning your trays daily with a separate toothbrush and a small amount of clear, antibacterial soap. Examine your trays when you clean them for signs of calcium deposits, and be sure to rinse them well with cold water after cleaning.

You should clean your Invisalign trays in the morning as well as before bed. These trays are meant to be worn while you sleep, which can allow saliva and plaque to build up overnight. You’ll find that once you make this a part of your regular routine, it will only take a couple of extra minutes to ensure that your trays are clean.

Precautions to take in cleaning your trays

Although cleaning your Invisalign trays is a simple addition to your daily regimen, it’s important that you also pay attention to a few special issues. Some of the precautions to keep in mind include the following:

Use cold water

Be sure to rinse your trays in cold water. Don’t use warm or hot water, because the heat may change the shape of your trays.

Be gentle

Make sure not to scrub your trays too hard. And don’t use a harsh or abrasive cleaner.

Remove before using mouthwash

Don’t use mouthwash while you have your retainers in place, as doing this may change their shape. Similarly, take out your trays while drinking hot coffee or tea.

Put them back in

Don’t forget to put your trays back in when you’re done cleaning them or after eating or drinking. If you find yourself feeling forgetful, set reminders on your phone or watch.

Invisalign is a great option for shaping your smile while maintaining a natural appearance throughout the process. If you would like to consider Invisalign, or if you have any questions about how to maintain your trays, book an appointment over the phone with Dental Art of South Bay today.