So you have finally visited your dentist, got your impression and now have your first set of Invisalign Braces.
Congratulations! This is the first step towards getting straight teeth.
Now the next step is to regularly wear them and ensure that you are keeping them clean between uses.
You will wear them for at least 22 hours a day. If they collect bacteria or debris then your teeth will no longer remain healthy.
Not only will that affect your teeth but also your treatment.
This article discusses how you can clean your plastic aligners so that your treatment goes smoothly and your teeth remain in good condition.
Getting Cleaning Accessories
One of the best ways to clean your Invisalign aligners is to use their accessories and cleaning solutions.
The Steraligner contains trays and a cleaning solution.
It cleans and sanitizes the aligners using a solution of rubbing alcohol and sodium bicarbonate.
Put the solution in the trays and the aligners in them too. Let them soak for 3 minutes.
The natural antiseptic sodium bicarbonate will eliminate the plaque. Next, rinse off the solution and brush away the loose plaque and bacteria from the aligners using hot water.
Other than that, there are the Cleaning Crystals.
A pack contains 50 crystals that can completely dissolve in water. The crystals contain sodium sulfate to act as a cleansing agent.
Pour them into a container and fill that with water to dissolve.
Put the aligners inside for about 15 minutes. Let the solution loosen the plaque to brush it later.
Then rinse the aligners to use again.
Retainer Cleaners are similar to those for Invisalign. You dissolve these effervescent tablets in water and then place the aligners inside.
Similarly, rinse and brush afterward. These are a cheaper option than those made specifically for aligners.
Though they also clean effectively. While teeth retainer cleaners might be similar, removable dentures cleaners are not the same. Hence, do not use them mistakenly.
You can use these accessories to clean your aligners once a day. Or you can also use home remedies to get rid of the debris and plaque without scratching and damaging the aligners.
Let’s find out about the ways to care for Invisalign in Dubai with things present right in your home.
DIY Ways of Cleaning Invisalign Braces
Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is an effective cleaner and just how it removes stains from your yellow teeth, it can do the same on your aligners.
Mix a low concentration solution of hydrogen peroxide with water and soak the aligners inside.
Let them soak for 30 minutes and then brush off the plaque. Rinse properly before wearing them again.
Mixing Water With White Vinegar
Mix around a tablespoon of white vinegar in a cup of lukewarm water.
Submerge your aligners for 15 minutes inside the solution.
Brush, rinse and dry them before wearing. Also, remember to not use any other vinegar.
They can rather stain the aligners instead of cleaning them so you can only use white vinegar.
Soaking in Baking Soda and Water
Like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda is also good for removing stains.
While you should not use abrasive toothpaste on your aligners, soaking them in baking soda and water will not scratch the aligners but remove the bacteria.
Simply mix a tablespoon of baking soda in water and let the aligners soak for 30 minutes. This will help to get rid of the stuck food particles and plaque.
Rinse. Brush. Repeat!
Submerging in Liquid Antibacterial Soap
The easiest way is to directly go for antibacterial soap. Either you can apply it to the aligners and rinse it with water or you can mix it in water and submerge them inside.
If you choose the latter, then mix it in water thoroughly till bubbles appear. Leave the aligners inside for 15 to 20 minutes to rinse and clean later.
Do not go for a scented soap but a clear one so that it does not leave any taste or stain on your aligners.
Moreover, remember to thoroughly clean the soap as it is not meant for ingestion.
Cleaners You Cannot Use
- Scented soaps
- Colored soaps
- Abrasive Toothpaste
- Colored Mouthwash with Alcohol
- Hot Water
- Chemicals
- Dishwasher
Scented soaps will leave a bitter aftertaste in your mouth. Hence, they are not the best to clean your aligners.
Moreover, colored soaps or other colored products will leave a stain on the clear aligners.
Hence, using them isn’t great either.
Furthermore, abrasive toothpaste can leave scratches on your aligners. That will damage them and make them more visible.
The products that work on teeth do not work similarly on plastic resin. If you want to use toothpaste then it should be nonabrasive and in a very small quantity.
Mouthwashes that look pretty with blue, yellow, green and other colors contain coloring agents.
These can stain your aligners permanently if you soak them in the mouthwash.
Furthermore, beware of using mouthwash with alcohol as that is a harsh chemical that can discolor as well as distort the shape of the aligners.
Similarly, bleach is a harsh chemical that you should keep away from the plastic resin.
Also do not wash your aligners in a dishwasher as it contains hot water.
Placing them in a dishwasher or rinsing and cleaning under hot water will warp the shape of the aligners.
Therefore, they will no longer fit. You need to wear a set of aligners for at least 2 weeks for them to bring your teeth in alignment.
However, if their shape distorts and they are no longer fit then your entire procedure will suffer.
Therefore, neither rinse them in hot water nor put them in a dishwasher.
Cleaning these aligners daily is important to prevent the build-up of bacteria inside the aligners and on your teeth.
Moreover, it is equally important to keep them in a case and not in the open.
Best Practices of Invisalign Braces
It is important to remember that aligners need proper cleaning and not only rinsing.
Hence, you should not only rinse them in water but soak them in cleansers during the morning and night or at least once a day.
Brush and floss during the day and night and then thoroughly cleanse your aligners using a different toothbrush.
Wear it only after brushing and flossing as this will decrease the chances of accumulating plaque and food debris around your aligners.
Otherwise, the plaque and debris can cause tooth decay, cavities and other oral health problems.
Hence, it is important to wear them with clean teeth. Cleaning the aligners in the morning and night helps to clean off the bacteria that collects throughout the day and overnight.
Furthermore, you should always put your aligners in a case whenever you take them off.
Do not leave them out in the open as bacteria can collect on them. If you are out for dinner and have forgotten to bring a case, remember to rinse them before you wear them again.
Also, do not store Invisalign Braces in a warm or damp place. Make sure they are in a cold and dry place where bacteria do not multiply.
You should put them in a case as soon as you take them out. Do not let them stay in the open as you can forget about them and misplace them easily.
Storing them is the best way to ensure that they are in a safe place.
You will obviously take them out when you eat or drink. The only drink you can have with aligners is water.
They are not meant for chewing and biting. Therefore, unlike traditional metal braces, you are not given a list of things you can or cannot eat.
How Often Do They Need Cleaning
Once daily is enough. Though to create a more hygienic environment, twice daily is ideal.
Cleanse it daily in the morning and night. Rinsing will only slightly clean the bacteria whereas cleaning it properly will clear the bacteria and plaque.
However, it is good to rinse them whenever you take them off for eating and drinking.
In case there are any bacteria present then rinsing can clean that.
Unlike traditional braces, you only have a set of aligners for 2 weeks. However, if they are discolored or damaged, 2 weeks is a long time till you can replace them.
Since, they are clear, not many people can tell if you are wearing your aligners or not, hence the impression is that these are your teeth.
If you do not clean them then the scratches, damages and discoloration will be apparent to people around you.
This defeats the purpose of Invisalign Braces which are meant to hide the appearance of dental work.
Furthermore, if you get cavities or decay then that can prolong your procedure rather than completing it timely.
Additionally, the build-up of bacteria in unclean aligners can cause frequent bad breath.
Hence, you should clean them not only for your appearance but also for your oral hygiene.
If you have finally decided to wear Invisalign Braces then it is also important to keep them clean.
Therefore, follow this article for cleaning materials and practices to eliminate the accumulating bacteria inside your aligners.
