A popular orthodontic treatment called Invisalign straightens teeth using a pair of transparent aligners. Due to its concealment and comfort, this form of treatment is selected by most patients over traditional metal braces. However, your aligners will stain and discolor if you fail to take proper steps to keep them clean. And if that occurs, the advantage of virtual invisibility is gone. Thankfully, cleaning your aligners is a rather easy process! Contact your dentist if you are considering getting an Invisalign in Morrisville, NC.
How to keep your Invisalign aligners clean?
Here are five suggestions for keeping clean trays.
- Prepare an oral hygiene routine.
You must use Invisalign for a correct amount of hours per day (often 20 to 22 hours per day) for the treatment to succeed. That means that you must also wear them when you sleep. During this period, the growth of bacteria occurs on your aligners and teeth. You must floss and brush your teeth immediately in the morning to eliminate bacteria and avoid dental problems. Therefore, it is essential that you establish a schedule for dental treatment. To keep your mouth healthy and free of bacteria, stick to it throughout the day and at night.
- Clean your aligners
Even though you have to put on your aligners for most of the time, you might have to take them out so you may eat and drink. Try cleaning your aligners each time you take them out before inserting them back in your mouth. By doing this, you may decrease the amount of plaque and saliva buildup.
- Soak your aligners daily.
You might find cleaning your aligners of all the food crumbs and other dirt difficult. Soak your aligners at least once daily to keep them in top shape! Invisalign cleaning crystals can be used, and the trays can be submerged according to the container’s directions. Give them a thorough cleaning after soaking to clear any leftover dirt.
- Avoid eating or drinking with aligners.
No dietary limitations are needed when using Invisalign, which is an advantage. That is mainly because you cannot consume anything but water when using aligners. If you chew on your trays, they may become broken or clogged with food particles. Consuming liquids that are brightly colored might stain your aligners, making them appear unclean and obvious.
- Do not keep your aligners exposed to open-air
The aligners must always be placed in their proper case while they are not worn. In addition to raising the risk of germs developing on them, leaving them exposed to the open increases the probability that the aligners will be destroyed. Give them a thorough rinse if you accidentally took them outside before putting them back in your mouth.