If you’ve decided to improve your smile with Invisalign Invisible Aligners, it’s likely because of the advantages they offer: being transparent, comfortable, removable, and practically unnoticeable.
However, to ensure your Invisalign Invisible Aligners remain discreet and you can enjoy the benefits of your invisible orthodontic system, it’s essential to take proper care of them. Otherwise, they could become deformed, stained, scratched, or lose their transparency.
How to Clean Invisalign Aligners
First of all, keep in mind that aligners are changed frequently (every 15 days), which makes maintenance much easier.
You just need to follow a few simple tips to ensure your aligners retain all their qualities and remain invisible throughout the two weeks you’ll be wearing them.
Below are the steps you should follow to ensure proper care and hygiene for your aligners:
- Neutral soap and water: When eating, or whenever you need to remove your aligners, clean them with neutral soap and lukewarm water (do not use excessively hot water, as it could deform them). Avoid cleaning aligners with toothpaste containing micro-granules or soaking them in mouthwash, as this could scratch and erode the material. This can result in the aligners becoming more opaque and losing their transparency.
- Aligner and dental hygiene: Clean aligners will help prevent bacteria from accumulating on their surface, contributing to healthy teeth and gums throughout the treatment. One of the benefits of invisible orthodontics is the ease of maintaining hygiene, as they are removable and can be taken out for eating and brushing your teeth.
- Brushing your teeth: After eating or drinking (unless it’s water), you should brush your teeth and rinse your aligners with water, ideally with soap, before putting them back in your mouth.
- Always store aligners in their case: After cleaning your aligners, always place them in their case. This will help prevent them from becoming deformed or misplaced.
- Weekly deep cleaning: Once you’ve completed the first week with your new aligners, you can use specific cleaning products designed for removable orthodontic devices. We recommend using these one or two times a week to keep the aligners transparent and to prevent them from developing any unpleasant odours or tastes.
Habits to Avoid During an Invisible Orthodontic Treatment
- No Smoking: Tobacco is not only harmful to your health but also stains teeth. For this reason, you should avoid smoking while wearing aligners, as they can become discoloured.
- Avoid Chewing Gum and Sweets: If you chew gum, it’s likely to stick to the aligners and may be difficult to remove completely. As for sweets, besides potentially staining the aligners, they can promote plaque buildup and increase the risk of cavities.
- Drinking: With Exceptions: Always remove your aligners before drinking wine, coffee, tea, or any beverage other than water, as these can stain them. Additionally, hot drinks may deform the aligners.
Other Useful Tips for Invisalign Wearers
- Chewies: Whenever you start using a new aligner, remember to use “chewies” (small cylindrical cushions) during the first three days. Chewing on the “chewies” for 10 minutes daily with your aligners in place helps them fit properly on your teeth. This ensures that the treatment is more effective and progresses as planned. Remember to use the “chewies” throughout the entire treatment—don’t throw them away.
- Discomfort at the Beginning of Treatment: It’s normal to feel some pressure on your teeth or mild discomfort when you start wearing new aligners. If you experience discomfort, you can take 500 mg of paracetamol occasionally (avoid ibuprofen, as it can inhibit tooth movement).
- Keep Your Old Aligners: When you start using a new aligner, clean the previous one thoroughly, store it in a case, and bring it to your next appointment. There are certain situations where extending the use of an old aligner may be beneficial.
- Wear Them for 20-22 Hours a Day: While you can remove your Invisalign aligners for eating and brushing your teeth, it’s essential to wear them for a minimum of 20-22 hours per day. If you think you won’t be able to meet this requirement due to specific circumstances, it might be worth considering other orthodontic systems.
