How to Clean Invisalign?

How to Clean Invisalign?

1st December 2021

In a study, Kelton confirmed 47.2% of people aged 30 or older using Invisalign suffer from Periodontal diseases. The reason? Dirty aligners. But won’t you dispose of the aligners every two weeks? Yes, but the aligners still need cleaning. Miss that and you will have to suffer from stained aligners, bad breath, and periodontal diseases.

Add to it the up to £4000 to £6000 price tag of each aligner and you would want them to stay clean. How? That’s what this article will help you with, in the next five minutes, you will learn all about how to clean Invisalign including:

• Steps to follow to keep Invisalign attachments clean
• Which cleaning methods are the best
• Which cleansers you should avoid
• How often should you clean Invisalign aligners

Steps to follow on How to Clean Invisalign

1. Maintain a morning and night hygiene routine

You must wear the Invisalign aligners at night. However, that’s when bacteria form on both the aligners and your teeth. Thus, when you wake up, take the aligners out. Brush both the aligners and your teeth. Furthermore, repeat the process every night before you sleep.

2. Rinse the aligners when you remove them

Rinse the aligners to prevent plaque and saliva build-up. Furthermore, if you have taken out the aligners for eating, brush your teeth before you put the aligners back on. If brushing isn’t possible, rinse your mouth before putting on the aligners. Clean the aligners using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a clear antibacterial soap. The process removes stuck-on food particles and debris.

3. Soak the aligners at least once a day

Brushing can’t remove all gunk and food particles. Thus, you must soak the aligners at least once a day. Soak the aligners with Invisalign cleaning crystals following the instructions on the package. Soak for fifteen minutes. Afterwards, brush the aligners and your teeth to remove any stubborn plaques. Rinse the aligners and put them back on.

4. Never eat or drink with the aligners on

Invisalign aligners don’t support chewing. The resulting pressure damages the aligners. Furthermore, food particles get stuck inside the aligners and cause bacteria to build up. You can drink water with the aligners on. However, drinking colourful liquids stain the aligners. Thus, your teeth will look yellow, defeating the purpose of wearing clear aligners.

5. Brush and floss your teeth before you put the aligners back on

Food particles can get stuck in between the teeth and the aligners. The resulting bacterial build-up can lead to further dental implants. Thus, always brush and floss your teeth before putting the aligners back on.

6. Never use coloured or scented soaps or toothpaste to clean Invisalign aligners

Coloured or scented toothpaste or soaps leave stains on the aligners. Furthermore, the toothpaste and soaps leave residue and cause an unpleasant taste. Thus, always use prescribed toothpaste and soaps that are clear in colour and are odourless.

7. Never leave the aligners out in the open

If you leave the aligners in the open air, bacteria forms on them. Furthermore, there’s always the chance of losing the aligners. Thus, never leave the aligners out in the open. If you do, give them a thorough rinsing before you put the aligners back on.

Which Invisalign cleaning methods are the best?

1. Invisalign crystals

The crystals clean the aligners without any scratching or discolouring. Fill a bowl with warm water. Put a packet of cleaning crystals and stir until the crystals dissolve. Put the aligners into the solution and leave for 15 minutes. Take the aligners out, brush them, and rinse them before putting them back on.

2. Hydrogen peroxide

Use hydrogen peroxide in low concentrations to remove stains from the aligners. Mix the hydrogen peroxide with warm water. Soak the aligners into the solution for 30 minutes. Afterwards, brush the leftover plaque and rinse the aligners before wearing them back on.

3. Baking soda

The abrasive quality of baking soda kills the bacteria without harming the aligners. Furthermore, baking soda is beneficial for removing plaque and stuck-on food particles as well. Mix a spoonful of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Soak the aligners in the solution for 30 minutes. Afterwards, brush and rinse the aligners.

4. Distilled white vinegar

Make a solution with 1-part vinegar and 3-parts water. Soak the Invisalign aligner for 15 minutes. The vinegar loosens up the plaque. Afterwards, brush to remove the leftover plaque and rinse with water.

5. Antibacterial soap

Create a solution of antibacterial soap and warm water. Apply the solution directly to the Invisalign aligners or let the aligners soak in the solution for fifteen minutes. Afterwards, rinse with water. However, never use coloured soaps.

Which Invisalign cleaners should you avoid?

Cleansers that are harsh or damage Invisalign aligners:

• Mouthwashes, especially those with alcohol
• Denture cleaners
• Toothpaste
• Scented soaps
• Cleansing soaps with added dyes (Hint: these are your blue, red, and green soaps)

Furthermore, always use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid scratches.

How often should you clean Invisalign aligners?

Short answer, each night. Clean the aligners when you brush and floss your teeth. The process removes built-up food, bacteria, and debris that accumulate during the day. Clean the aligners if you drank a coloured liquid wearing the aligners. Clean the Invisalign aligners if you put them too early after eating.

Furthermore, you must clean the aligners each time you take them off. Miss that and the aligners will appear yellow. Thus, your teeth will look yellow. You will suffer from bad breath as well, thanks to the bacteria build-up.

A clean Invisalign aligner makes a massive difference

A study conducted by Kelton confirmed 58% of Americans with straight teeth have a better chance to be successful than the ones with crooked teeth. Furthermore, 29% of Americans notice another person’s teeth first. You can be certain the Brits aren’t a lot different, at least in this regard.

In this article, you have learnt:

• Cleaning Invisalign aligners
• Best cleaning methods
• Cleansers to avoid
• Best times to clean Invisalign aligners

I hope the information will help you keep your Invisalign aligners sparkling clean.