How To Clean Invisalign Braces? A Step By Step Guide

One of the reasons people choose Invisalign aligners over metal braces is discreteness. Manufactured from clear medical-grade plastic, nobody will know you’re wearing Invisalign unless you tell them. But discreteness goes out of the window if your aligners are stained, so it’s vital to understand how to clean Invisalign braces. 

If you don’t get into an oral hygiene routine to help keep your Invisalign trays clean, the evidence will be there for all to see. When you clean Invisalign braces, it’s not just about aesthetics. Dirty aligners accumulate spit, saliva, plaque, and bacteria, leading to bad breath and tooth decay. Fortunately, your Northbridge dentist can help you avoid that with a few essential cleaning tips. 

How to Clean Invisalign Braces? 

Z Adopt a good oral health routine

For Invisalign aligners to work their magic, you have to wear them for at least 22 hours a day, which means wearing them while you sleep at night. While you’re fast asleep, bacteria gather on your teeth and trays partly because there is less saliva to rinse them. 

Take your trays out first thing in the morning and thoroughly brush your trays and teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and don’t scrub too hard. It’s best to avoid most types of toothpaste because many are abrasive and cause tiny cracks in your aligners. However, clear anti-bacterial soap will work just as well. 

Start gently scrubbing with circular movements around the trays’ surfaces. Pay particular attention to the areas that contact the teeth since this is a common area where plaque forms. Then rinse your Invisalign aligners under a steady stream of warm (not hot) water and leave them to air dry while you brush and floss your teeth. 

Don’t forget to repeat this process each night before climbing into bed. 

Z Clean Invisalign braces every time you remove them 

You can’t wear your trays every hour or every day, and you will need to remove them to eat and drink at some point. Try to get into the habit of rinsing your aligners every time you remove them to help minimise saliva and plaque build-up. When you take your trays out to eat food, try brushing your teeth and rinse them before placing them back in your mouth. 

Z Soak your aligners once a day

Brushing alone can’t remove certain food particles and plaque. Soaking your Invisalign aligners once a day will help keep them looking their best. 

Grab yourself some Invisalign cleaning crystals and follow the instructions on the packaging. Once they have finished soaking, remove them from the solution and brush them well with a soft toothbrush to remove any stubborn plaque. Some people prefer a soft baby’s toothbrush, but a standard toothbrush will be alright if you take things gently. Rinse with cold water before putting them back in your mouth after brushing your teeth.

There are alternatives if you don’t want to use Invisalign crystals to clean your Invisalign braces:

• Dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda with warm water and soak the aligners for an hour. Remove the aligners from the solution and rinse them well with warm water.
• You can also dilute vinegar (one part to three parts water) and soak your aligners for 25 to 30 minutes. After that, rinse them, and you’re good to go.

Z Don’t eat or drink with your Invisalign aligners

One of the benefits of Invisalign is that there are no food restrictions. That’s because you are supposed to remove them to eat food and drink anything other than water. Colourful foods and beverages can stain them. Furthermore, Invisalign trays aren’t designed with chewing in mind. Food particles may get stuck in them, and the pressure could damage them.

Z Never leave your aligners out in the open

Exposing your aligners to the air could cause bacteria to form on them. Because they’re virtually invisible, you could also lose your aligners if you leave them on a table, as they could get cleared away or thrown into a rubbish bin with a napkin. Always keep your aligners in a storage case when you’re not wearing them to prevent damage or loss. 

So, that’s it. All you need to know about how to clean Invisalign braces is.

Invisalign is a discreet and comfortable way to straighten teeth. However, you need to keep your aligners clean to get the most out of your orthodontic treatment. Dirty aligners can lead to bacteria and tooth decay, so follow the above cleaning tips. 

Invisalign Management in Northbridge

Are you ready to start your Invisalign journey?

Schedule your orthodontics consultation with the experienced team at My Local Dentists.

Call your Northbridge dentist today at (02) 9000 1383 or use our online booking service. We’ll soon put a smile on your face.

Visit us at Shop 20A Northbridge Plaza, 79-113 Sailors Bay Road in Northbridge.