Your North York Invisalign® Provider
Invisalign clear braces allow you to remove your aligners to eat and drink, but that doesn't mean they don't get dirty. Our Sheppard Yorkland dentists explain the best way to care for your aligners so that you get the most out of your Invisalign treatment.
Taking care of your aligners is an important part of your treatment. Neglecting routine cleaning can cause your aligners to discolour, smell, and build up plaque and bacteria that can erode your tooth enamel over time.
Thankfully, caring for your clear aligners is easy. Just be sure to follow these simple steps regularly throughout your treatment.
Rinse Throughout The Day
Any time you take out your aligners, be sure to rinse them under running water before you put them back in your mouth. Rinsing your aligners several times a day helps kill the bacteria and germs that can grow on them.
Brush Your Aligners Daily
Using anything but clear soap can harm your aligners, including toothpaste. Be sure to only use clear, anti-bacterial soft soap and warm water to gently brush your aligners daily and keep them free of bacteria and plaque.
Soak Aligners Once A Week
You can soak your aligners in Invisalign's specialized cleaning crystals. These crystals dissolve in water to create a cleansing liquid for you to soak your aligners in. This doesn’t need to be done more than once a week.
Keep Your Teeth Clean
Good oral hygiene habits, including brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, will help you prevent the build-up of plaque and bacteria under your aligners. Ideally, you want to clean your teeth every time you remove your aligners, before putting them back in. If that's not always possible, be sure to at least rinse them with water.
Be Mindful Of Your Diet
Heavily pigmented foods and coloured drinks can stain your aligners so be sure to only drink water while you're wearing them. For other foods and drinks, be sure to remove your aligners first and clean them before putting them back in your mouth.