Whether you’re planning on getting Invisalign or you’ve already gotten it, knowing how to clean Invisalign is just as important as remembering to wear them. Invisalign needs to be taken care of often in order to remain invisible, clean, and odor free.
Invisalign Treatment
For those unfamiliar with this orthodontic treatment, Invisalign is a series of clear, removable appliances that are used to straighten teeth without the use of brackets or wires that accompany traditional metal braces. They are removable for eating and brushing teeth and are custom-fit per patient to ensure the ideal placement of the teeth and to ensure that the right amount of pressure is being exerted in the proper areas.
On average, Invisalign users should be wearing their aligners between twenty to twenty-two hours per day. These virtually invisible molds gradually reposition your teeth into the smile of your dreams. They also advantageously provide a discrete process during the treatment. Thus, in order to keep Invisalign discrete, it is important to take care of them to the same degree you would take care of traditional, metal braces. Below, we’ll go over all the ways to take care of your plastic aligners. If you wanted to know how to clean Invisalign retainers, this is the perfect article for you!
Check out our before & after gallery!
Photo by Authority Dental under CC 2.0
Budget-friendly Invisalign Care Tips
A common misconception about Invisalign upkeep is that it can get a bit pricey. There are certainly incredibly expensive Invisalign kits you can order. The kits will promise to keep your aligners in their best condition. However, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to take care of your retainers. Getting Invisalign in Los Angeles makes it possible to cheaply take care of them. Here are some tips on how to do just that.
You should soak your Invisalign at the end of the night. Using products like Denture Cleaner tablets, Retainer Brite, and the official Invisalign cleaning crystals are all excellent tools to soak your Invisalign in. Denture Cleaner costs $5.89 at Target. Retainer Brite costs $10.89 off of Amazon. Lastly, Invisalign cleaning crystals cost up to $7.58 when ordered from Amazon. Even using more common and cheaper products like mouthwash from your local drug store can do the trick as well. Regardless of what product you use, soaking your aligners at the end of the night is very important when trying to cleanse any bacteria or dirt off from the material.
It’s also just as important to wash your Invisalign each time you take them out. You must remove your Invisalign each time you eat. But you don’t want to put the aligners back in after a meal when you’ve just eaten a mouthful of sugar or a couple scoops of sticky substances. You create awful bacteria by leaving dry saliva and plaque in the retainers if you don’t give them a good rinse. Even if it may seem like a dull and redundant task to do this after each meal, there’s nothing worse than having food stuck in your clear Invisalign that is meant to be discrete.
How Proper Dental Hygiene Supports Invisalign Success
You should always make sure to brush and floss your teeth twice a day before inserting your Invisalign. It is impossible to have beautiful teeth without proper hygiene. Knowing how to clean Invisalign starts with knowing how to take care of your teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is key to preventing cavities and decay. Additionally, because Invisalign is custom fit to your teeth, not taking care of your them can cause bacteria to get trapped in the mold and will result in future dental problems later in life. Thus, brushing and flossing your teeth will guarantee the option of having healthy and white choppers when you stop your orthodontic treatment.
Lastly, you should always make sure to brush your aligners lightly. Again, using a bit of mouthwash or Invisalign specific tablets are the best options to use for the mold, along with your usual toothbrush. Nothing can get all the access food and plaque out of the crevices of the aligners like a good couple of minutes spent brushing them. However, beware to brush the Invisalign gently. Brushing the aligners too aggressively can cause scratches or etches on the mold that will show up on the outside. You wouldn’t want to put marks on the orthodontic treatment that is designed for being undetectable.
It is not essential to buy and use anti-bacterial soft soap. However, this product can be cheap at your local drug store and will definitely aid your orthodontic treatment. It is simply another method of keeping your Invisalign in pristine condition and avoiding any harmful bacteria build up. It also gives your teeth a fresh, clean feeling that will only aid your dream smile in the long-run. Any brand you could imagine for anti-bacterial soft soap can be found as low as $5.89 on Amazon.
Achieving a Dream Smile – Invisalign
The list can seem a bit overwhelming regarding the many ways to clean your Invisalign. But knowing how to clean an Invisalign retainer is pertinent in order to have a successful orthodontic treatment. Not only will it help you attain your dream smile, but it will also ease any discomfort while wearing the Invisalign. This more inconspicuous alternative to traditional braces is a popular path to take.
You don’t have to deal with the pain of getting metal braces tightened. Being stuck with the metal braces look, which some find unsatisfying, is not an issue. Invisalign can be taken out when necessary, such as for parties or important work meetings. With Invisalign, there’s no need to worry about food getting stuck in impossible-to-reach places in your mouth.Despite this, plaque builds up easily in the molds.
Odor can accumulate if the retainers aren’t washed often. And failure to properly brush and floss your teeth can lead to future dental issues. By simply implementing a few extra steps to take care of the plastic mold, you’ll have all the benefits of Invisalign without the unnecessary downsides. So if you’re planning on getting Invisalign, or recently just got them installed, be smart and clean them properly! If you are ready to look and feel your best, call today and get started on your journey to a brand-new smile – (310) 710-6527.
Check out our before & after gallery!