Don’t Forget to Clean Your Aligners! 4 Tips for Living with Invisalign

The obvious advantage of using Invisalign aligners to straighten your teeth is that they’re see-through, unlike traditional braces that can leave you self-conscious about your appearance. However, if you don’t take care of your aligners, they could become stained and visible in the worst way. Furthermore, bacteria will start to build up, leading to oral health problems – not to mention an unpleasant odor! If you want to keep your smile bright and healthy while using Invisalign in Charlottesville, keep these 4 tips in mind.

1. Always Remove Your Aligners During Meals

You should never eat or drink anything besides water while wearing Invisalign. Otherwise, the particles could stain the aligners, and they could start to smell as well. The good news is that since you’ll remove your aligners during meals, you won’t have to worry about any sort of diet restrictions.

2. Brush Your Teeth and Rinse Your Aligners Before Putting Them Back In

There’s likely to be some saliva on your aligners when you take them out. Dry saliva can give bacteria the perfect environment to breed. Thus, whenever you remove your aligners to eat, you should always rinse them with water before putting them back in.

Similarly, to avoid food particles and oral bacteria becoming trapped in the aligners (and thus increasing the risk of tooth decay), you should brush and floss thoroughly after every meal. For this reason, it might be a good idea to start taking a toothbrush to work.

3. Clean Your Aligners on a Regular Basis

To keep the aligners sanitized, you should regularly soak them in denture cleaner or with the official Invisalign cleaning crystals. You can also brush your aligners, but don’t use toothpaste since it could scratch the plastic. Instead, clean them with a clear anti-bacterial soft soap. Never use hot water while cleaning your aligners; they can become warped by the heat and thus won’t fit properly.

4. Be Careful When Traveling

Each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks before moving on to the next set. Thus, you may need to bring the next set with you if you’re leaving town. Always keep your Invisalign aligners with your carry-on luggage; you run the risk of it being lost if you put it with the regular baggage. Similarly, it’s a good idea to bring extra Invisalign cases in case you accidentally leave on behind in your hotel or at a restaurant.

If you have any questions or problems regarding your Invisalign aligners, talk to your cosmetic dentist right away. Taking care of Invisalign aligners requires a little bit of time and effort, but for adults and teenagers who are looking for a more attractive and convenient alternative to traditional orthodontics, it’s well worth it to maintain a beautiful, unobstructed grin.

About the Practice

At Charlottesville Blue ridge Dental, our team bring their unique skills to bring families truly outstanding care. We’re always looking for options that make things more convenient for our patients. That’s why, for a limited time, we’re offering free Invisalign consultations as well as a special reduced price for the treatment. To schedule your consultation today, visit our website or call (434) 978-1510.