The best thing about Invisalign and clear aligners is how nearly undetectable they are. Unless you tell them, your co-workers, friends, or family might not even know that you’re using Invisalign trays! However, your invisible braces will suddenly stand out as soon as your aligners begin to discolour or turn yellow.
Your Invisalign needs cleaning if it is becoming yellow or beginning to smell weird. You must commit to daily tray cleaning and solid dental hygiene practice to get the optimum results.
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Cleaning methods for Invisalign trays
- Invisalign Crystals
Invisalign crystals work best for cleaning your aligner trays. They are designed to complete the task without scratching or staining your aligners. First, put some warm water in a container. Dissolve a packet of cleaning crystals in water by opening it and stirring them until they dissolve completely.
Put your trays in the solution and give them 15 minutes to soak. Before rinsing them off and placing them back in your mouth, take them out and thoroughly brush them. - Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide, used sparingly, is the ideal solution for cleaning stains off your Invisalign. Soak your aligners for over thirty minutes in a mixture of warm water and hydrogen peroxide. After your trays have finished soaking in the solution, brush off any remaining dirt and give them a thorough rinse before using them again. - Baking soda
Although it won’t affect your aligner, baking soda has a particular abrasive nature that will significantly destroy germs. In addition, it works well for removing food particles and plaque that are stuck to your teeth.
It would help if you started by dissolving one cup of warm water with one tablespoon of baking soda. Before taking out and brushing your Invisalign, let them soak in the water for at least thirty minutes. - Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar works wonders for cleaning Invisalign if you’re using vinegar. However, any other form of vinegar will cause a stain on your aligners. Create a mixture with 1 part vinegar and three parts water. Give your Invisalign a fifteen-minute soak in the water. This will allow the vinegar some time to loosen and for you to remove the stain with a toothbrush. - Antibacterial Soap
You can clean your trays with antibacterial soap as long as it’s clear; however, you cannot use scented soap. Antibacterial soaps that are coloured will discolour the plastic.
Either make warm water and soap solution and soak the aligners or use the soap directly on the Invisalign. In either case, be careful to thoroughly rinse the aligners after use because it would be harmful to you to consume any remaining particles of antibacterial soap.
Important cleaning tips
Bacterial aligners can harbour bacteria that might lead to tooth decay. You can avoid it by following the tips below for cleaning your aligners.
- Establish a morning routine for hygiene
You must wear your Invisalign at night for them to function correctly. While you sleep soundly, bacteria are fighting hard to accumulate on your teeth and aligners. You can practice excellent hygiene and eliminate these toxic microorganisms by establishing a morning cleaning regimen.
When you wake up, take your aligners out and clean your teeth and aligners thoroughly. Make sure to carry out this procedure every morning after you wake up. - After removing your aligners, rinse them.
You can’t wear your aligners all the time. There will be a moment when you need to remove them so you may eat and drink. Rinse your aligners well before re-applying them.
Rinsing your Invisalign will minimise the build-up of plaque and saliva. If you remove your aligners to eat, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth or, at the very least, rinse them before replacing them. - At Least Once a Day, Soak Your Aligners
A simple brushing will not remove all food particles and other dirt. It would be best to soak your Invisalign once daily to maintain them.
Purchase some Invisalign cleaning crystals, then immerse your aligners as directed on the bottle. After you soak your aligners for the prescribed amount of time, take them out and give them a thorough brushing to eliminate any remaining plaque. Once you’ve finished brushing your teeth, rinse your Invisalign and replace them.
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