We’ve explored the benefits of Invisalign many times, but there are some key factors and tips you might not know about if this is the first time you’re seriously considering them. For example, how do you clean your Invisalign aligners, and what do you do when you eat? Here’s how to clean your Invisalign trays!

First things first

When you wake up in the morning, take your trays out of your mouth and clean both your teeth and the trays thoroughly. Bacteria can build up in your mouth while you sleep, so it’s important to start your day off right by cleaning your teeth and trays. Make sure you do this before bed, too.

Remove and rinse

You need to prevent dry saliva and plaque from building up inside your aligners, as this could force them to crack or just generally make them a bit dirty. Make sure you rinse them every time you take them out of your mouth. Bacteria could otherwise grow in these damp parts of the aligner, threatening the integrity of your Invisalign and also possibly giving you bad breath. Brushing the trays can help remove plaque, and you could team this with a clear and gentle anti-bacterial soap.

Daily soak

The best way to clean your Invisalign trays is with a daily soak in either a denture cleaner or Invisalign cleaning crystals. After they’ve finished soaking, use a toothbrush you’ve set aside just for your Invisalign to brush away any residual plaque or particles. Rinse them again with water before putting them back in your mouth.

Brush and floss your teeth

When you eat, remember to remove your Invisalign (this is one of their many benefits!). After you’ve eaten, it’s important you don’t put the trays back in your mouth before you’ve brushed and flossed your teeth. Trapping food particles in with your Invisalign provides the warm and wet environment bacteria need to grow, so you could risk developing cavities and losing protective enamel if you make this a habit.

Don’t eat or drink with your Invisalign trays in

Okay, so you can drink water while wearing your aligners, but make sure you don’t eat or drink anything else while you wear them. The Invisalign trays are not designed for chewing and biting, so can get damaged if you try to regularly eat with them in. Also, food particles could get stuck in the trays, causing discolouration and staining. Not only this, but they could also encourage decay through their close proximity to your teeth and how attractive the trapped food is to bacteria.

Don’t use toothpaste or coloured and scented soap

Toothpaste would seem like the obvious choice for tooth appliance cleaning, but it can actually discolour the trays and damage them, leading to cracks forming. Soaps that are coloured or scented are also not recommended. They could stain your trays and leave a nasty soapy taste in your mouth. Instead, use a denture cleaner or even Invisalign-affiliated cleaning products to make sure what you’re using is safe for the materials.

If you’d like more advice about Invisalign or are considering the treatment for yourself, enquire online or speak to a member of staff on 0161 947 9900 today!