Invisalign aligners are removable, which make it easy to clean your teeth during treatment. But you have to keep the aligners themselves clean, too! Here’s how.
Cleaning
- Rinse your aligners each time you remove them. Otherwise, dry saliva and plaque will build up over time and create an ideal breeding ground for foul smelling bacteria.
- Brush and floss your teeth before putting you aligners back in your mouth. This will prevent food particles from getting trapped in the tight space between your teeth and aligners.
- Clean your aligners with a clear, mild anti-bacterial soap and a soft toothbrush regularly. This is a great way to get rid of unwanted bacteria and keep your aligners clean and fresh. Do not to use coloured soap though, as this may cause discolouration. Rinse thoroughly before putting the aligners back in your mouth.
Damage Prevention
- Only consume water while you're actually wearing your aligners. Food and drinks can stain them and cause them to smell bad over time.
- Toothpaste is abrasive, so try not to use it to clean your aligners unless necessary. It may cause your aligners to become dull, and create small scratches that trap bacteria.
- Don’t leave your aligners lying around when you’re not wearing them. Always clean them, and then put them right back in their case. Leaving your aligners out in the open exposes them to bacteria, and increases the likelihood that they’ll be damaged or lost.