Need to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners? Learn How to Do it With Household Items
Cleaning your Invisalign aligners with household items is both simple and crucial for maintaining good oral health. There are various methods you can use.
You can brush them gently or rinse them thoroughly. Soaking your aligners is another effective option. Using these methods keeps your aligners both clean and fresh.
Maintaining the cleanliness of your aligners is an essential part of your Invisalign treatment. Your orthodontist is responsible for designing the treatment, which includes using braces to align your teeth properly. However, you play a vital role in wearing the aligners correctly. This compliance is key to achieving a healthy and attractive smile.
Remember to brush your teeth regularly to remove food particles from your aligners. While cleaning invisalign with household items, avoid hot water as it can damage the aligners. For best results, soak your aligners for about 15 minutes every day. This routine is important for your oral health.
By following these easy steps, you can ensure the success of your Invisalign treatment. It’s about keeping your aligners clean and your smile bright and healthy.
Invisalign Maintenance Guide: Maintaining your Invisalign aligners offers several cleaning methods, providing flexibility rather than being limited to a single approach. To safeguard your aligners effectively, it is recommended to regularly brush, rinse, and soak them.
Invisalign Cleaning Methods
Gently clean your aligners using a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild dish soap.
Using a separate toothbrush from your personal toothbrush, gently brush the aligners inside and out with generic dish soap. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, put a pea-sized amount of dish soap on the toothbrush, run underwater, and gently brush the entire aligner. Rinse thoroughly under water before putting back in your mouth.
Don’t use toothpaste: the abrasive materials in toothpaste can scratch the surface of the aligners. And try to avoid very brightly colored soaps with a lot of dye in them: this can potentially stain the aligners.
If you don’t have dish soap available, you can use hand soap, or simply brush the aligners with water.
Submerge your aligners in denture cleaner for thorough cleansing.
Denture cleaner is sold over the counter at your local pharmacy and works well as a soaking solution for Invisalign aligners. Polident is a popular and effective brand of denture cleaner. Simply soak both aligners in denture cleaner for about 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly before use.
Immerse your aligners in Invisalign Cleaning Crystals to maintain their clarity.
Invisalign Cleaning Crystals are a cleaning brand specifically designed by Invisalign to clean their clear aligners. Dissolve an individual packet of crystals into a glass of water and soak your aligners for 15 minutes.
Rinse before putting back in your mouth. Invisalign cleaning crystals are a little pricier than the other options mentioned, but they are specifically designed to remove plaque and bacteria from your aligners, for the highest-quality clean.
Consider using EverSmile® WhiteFoam for additional cleaning and whitening.
EverSmile® WhiteFoam is a bacteria-killing, breath-freshening foam that you can apply directly into your aligners. With no brushing or soaking required, it’s a good on-the-go solution to keep your aligners clean throughout the day.
The foam gently whitens your teeth and your attachments, as well as whitening beneath the attachments to prevent discoloration. And its mint flavor makes WhiteFoam a great breath freshener any time. You can get WhiteFoam from your orthodontist or order online.
Allow your aligners to soak in hydrogen peroxide for sanitation.
You might know hydrogen peroxide as a first-aid antiseptic or a bleaching agent for your hair, but it also is an excellent cleaner for Invisalign aligners! Mix equal parts warm water and 3% hydrogen peroxide and soak both aligners for 15-30 minutes. Rinse before using.
Note: hydrogen peroxide will kill the bacteria on your aligners, but not stop plaque, so you should brush them with water and/or dish soap using a soft-bristled brush after soaking to knock off any plaque that has accumulated.
Give your aligners a soak in white distilled vinegar for a freshening boost.
White distilled vinegar is an effective cleaning agent and works well for soaking aligners. Mix three parts warm water to 1 part vinegar (make sure it’s white distilled vinegar, there are many other kinds that do not work for cleaning), and soak for 15-30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and brush to remove tartar or plaque.
What Not to Use to Clean Invisalign Aligners
Don’t Scrub with Toothpaste
Orthodontic treatment often involves the use of aligners as a treatment option. While toothpaste contains unique minerals and additives designed to safeguard your tooth enamel, it can potentially cause surface scratches on your aligners, rendering them more conspicuous and less efficient. Therefore, it’s advisable to opt for a gentle cleaning approach when maintaining your aligners.
To maintain your aligners effectively during orthodontic treatment, consider using a soft-bristled toothbrush, water, and dish soap. This approach helps to avoid any potential damage to the aligners and ensures they remain inconspicuous and efficient throughout the treatment process.
Don’t Soak Aligners in Colored Mouthwash
Prolonged immersion in colored mouthwash may lead to staining of both your teeth and gums. It’s perfectly fine to saturate your aligners in mouthwash or swish with them on, but be sure to rinse your mouth and aligners thoroughly afterward. Alternatively, opt for a clear mouthwash to avoid staining your trays and maintaining the color of your teeth and gums.
FAQs About Cleaning Invisalign Aligners
How Often Should You Clean Your Aligners?
Clean your Invisalign aligners twice daily, along with brushing your teeth. Clean them by brushing or soaking using any of the methods described above, or a combination of them. For instance, some Invisalign patients prefer to brush them in the morning and soak them in the evening while they prepare for bed.
Remove aligners for eating and drinking anything but water, and store them in their case so they don’t get damaged or lost. If possible, you should brush and floss after every meal, but if you don’t have the ability to do that, just rinse your mouth with water and spit in the sink. Rinse the aligners under lukewarm water (hot water can warp the aligners) before putting them back in your mouth.
Keeping your aligners clean will help ensure your treatment is on track and progressing smoothly, and will prevent discoloration or staining on the aligners, making them look more noticeable.
Can I Use Cleaning Crystals?
Yes, Invisalign Cleaning Crystals are an excellent method to keep your Invisalign aligners sparkling clear and fresh. To use them, dissolve an individual packet of crystals into a glass of lukewarm water, and drop both aligners in. Soak them for 15-30 minutes in the solution, and then rinse after soaking to remove any residue. Soak every night for best results.
The cleaning crystal system is designed by Invisalign specifically to keep its aligners clean. They are optimized to kill bacteria and rid the aligners of any plaque build-up. You can order them online or get them from your orthodontist.
How to Clean Your Vivera Retainers
Cleaning your Vivera™ retainers is straightforward and similar to cleaning aligners. You can use readily available retainer cleaning solutions or denture cleaner from your local pharmacy. Alternatively, Invisalign cleaning crystals work well. Another option is to gently brush your retainer with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild dish soap for proper cleaning.
Should your retainer become discolored, warped, or misshapen over time, it’s a sign to replace it. Vivera™ retainers come in sets of four (eight in total, for both top and bottom), ensuring they last for years to protect the results of your Invisalign treatment. Don’t forget to keep your Vivera™ retainer safely stored in its case when you’re not using it to avoid any potential damage or misplacement.
For cleaning, use lukewarm water and antibacterial soap, and for maintaining your smile after straightening your teeth, these steps are crucial. Avoid eating or drinking with your retainer in place to ensure its longevity and effectiveness.
