Cleaning and Maintaining Your Invisalign Aligners

Posted on: 8 September 2022

Choosing the Invisalign treatment plan likely came to you after a lot of consideration. You likely looked at the pros and cons of the aligners. You also talked to your dentist to determine if this type of dental treatment was right for you. Of all the research you did, one of the main topics you may have overlooked was how to clean and maintain the aligners properly. Here are some of the key tips for cleaning and maintaining your aligners and maintaining your oral health as well. 

Bacteria Removal

The leading issue with any oral care treatment is reducing the amount of bacteria in your mouth. When you take out your Invisalign aligners, you may decide to simply rinse them. This will help remove loose debris and food from your aligners. What it will not do is remove the bacteria that is built up. For this, you will need to use a soft brush and mild soap. The brush and the soap can not be the same as you use on your teeth. By cleaning the aligners with this method and rinsing them properly, you can remove a vast majority of the bacteria. 

Cleaning Crystal

If you are building your Invisalign maintenance tools, one tool to consider are cleaning crystals. These crystals dissolve in water. Once the crystals are dissolved, place your aligners in the solution. This is a deep cleaning method for your aligners. The crystals help to break down the film that may be on your aligners. They also work to get into small spaces and get rid of bacteria in those spaces. Once the aligners have sat in the solution for the appropriate amount of time, remove them. You will then need to use your soft aligner cleaning brush to brush off residue. Rinse the aligners and dry them as the final step. 

Sterilising Equipment

If you are concerned about germs and sterilising those germs, you may want to consider buying sterilising equipment. This equipment can be something as simple as a UV light tray for your aligners. There are many options like this available that can become part of your cleaning routine. Keep in mind, not only do your aligners need to be steralised, but so does your cleaning equipment. Consider a sterlisation option for each item. 

If you still have questions about how to clean and maintain your Invisalign aligners, contact your dentist. Either your dentist or a dental assistant can help answer your questions. They can also discuss the options available for cleaning products to use on the aligners and how to store them during travel or overnight.  

For more information about Invisalign, contact a local dentist. 

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