During your course of treatment, you will need to clean your Invisalign properly. Unfortunately, eating and drinking will cause your Invisalign to become dirty and stained. For that reason, proper maintenance is essential to keep the product from becoming damaged or unclean.
Luckily, taking care of Invisalign is just as easy as brushing your teeth, but there are some things that you might need to be aware of when caring for Invisalign:
- How Invisalign becomes dirty
- How to clean Invisalign properly
- What not to do
Being in your mouth virtually all day and night means that Invisalign takes the brunt of the damage from the intake of food, drink, and general oral bacteria. Therefore, it is vital that you know how to clean it properly, and there are some things you need to be aware of that could damage your Invisalign.
How Invisalign Becomes Dirty
In most cases, it is best if Invisalign stays in your mouth between 20 and 22 hours per day, so it is definitely going to become dirty. The build-up of remnant food and drink is a problem for the braces, which can become very unhygienic if left untreated, not cleaned properly, or exposed to certain products.
At the very least, your Invisalign braces could become stained if not cleaned properly, which defeats the whole point of the “invisible” nature of the braces themselves.
In the worst case, the bacterial build-up from your saliva minerals, uncleaned bits of food, and other oral intake sources can negatively affect your teeth. Specifically, they can cause tooth decay issues and develop an unpleasant odor, which usually happens by not practicing good oral hygiene.
How to Clean Invisalign Properly
Fortunately, cleaning Invisalign is very easy and doesn’t require much effort; however, there are multiple methods of cleaning the braces for the most optimal outcome.
Brushing
When caring for your Invisalign, the primary thing that you should do is to brush them twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. To brush them properly, remove them from your mouth and brush them gently with a toothbrush and warm water with scentless soap or hand wash.
Some dentists might suggest brushing with a little toothpaste as well, but they aren’t designed to withstand some toothpaste’s abrasive nature, which can damage the braces. After brushing, make sure to rinse them properly and then let them dry.
Importantly, always ensure that you perform your usual oral hygiene methods such as brushing, rinsing, and flossing before inserting your Invisalign. Furthermore, never insert clean braces into a dirty mouth.
What Not to Do
Invisalign is a very sensitive product that can be affected by many external factors. Although cleaning them might sound straightforward, there are some things that you need to be aware of that can damage the braces:
- Don’t use toothpaste; toothpaste can be abrasive and damage the braces.
- Don’t use mouthwash; mouthwash contains strong chemicals that can damage Invisalign.
- Don’t leave them out; leaving them out can stain them, so always store them in their case.
- Don’t use scented soap; scented soap will leave a bad taste in your mouth.
- Try not to eat or drink; for optimal cleanliness, don’t eat or drink while the braces are inserted.
To clean Invisalign properly and prolong the life, effectiveness, and hygiene of the braces, make sure you follow this advice. Always ask and consult with your dentist if you have any questions or concerns about your Invisalign!
Final Thoughts
We hope you were better able to understand how to clean your Invisalign properly. If you are in need of Invisalign, you have come to the right place! Located in Cypress, Texas, Cypress Dental Clinic can help you achieve the smile of your dreams! To learn more about what we can do to help, call us today at 832-427-6620.