How Do You Clean Invisalign Retainers?
Invisalign is not just a system for straightening your teeth. It is also an investment in the health and beauty of your smile. That’s why it’s essential to wear them as directed and clean them thoroughly.
Cleaning your Invisalign aligners is not as simple as brushing your teeth. It’s important to set up a routine and stick to it. Once you get the hang of it, cleaning your Invisalign will be an easy habit.
Brush Invisalign Trays Morning and Night
You have to wear your Invisalign retainers while you sleep to see results. But while you’re snoozing away, bacteria builds up on your teeth and aligners. So one of the first things you should do in the morning is to brush your aligners when you brush and floss your teeth.
Take out your retainers, then brush and floss your teeth as usual. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush for your Invisalign trays. This is typically different from the type of brush you use on your teeth. Instead of toothpaste, apply clear liquid soap to the brush. Then thoroughly brush all sides of your retainers. Rinse with water and put them back in.
You should repeat the same process right before you head to bed. This ensures you wash away all the germs and food particles that can accumulate in your aligners during the day.
Rinse Invisalign Retainers Throughout the Day
When you eat anything or drink any liquid besides water, you need to remove your Invisalign retainers. Typically, you will put them in a particular container for this purpose. It’s important to remove your aligners every time. Otherwise, you may end up with stained retainers, which can make your teeth look yellow.
Once you’re done eating or drinking, rinse off your aligners before putting them back in. Some people also rinse their mouths with water at this time. This quick rinse ensures that you don’t get food particles stuck to your Invisalign retainers.
Soak Invisalign Aligners Once Per Day
Research shows that soaking Invisalign aligners once daily keeps them slightly cleaner than brushing and rinsing alone. Soaking Invisalign trays to clean them typically involves leaving them in a special cleaning solution for about three minutes. Then you rinse them off before putting them back in. This process can be part of the morning or night routine.
There are several types of solutions that you can use to soak your Invisalign trays, including:
- Steraligner from the Invisalign brand
- Invisalign cleaning crystals
- Products made to soak retainers or aligners from other brands
- A mixture of equal parts white vinegar and warm water
It’s essential only to use approved products to soak and clean your Invisalign trays. Those products use different ingredients and can harm your aligners. Do not use denture soaks for Invisalign.
Invisalign Braces in Fleming Island, FL
Cleaning Invisalign retainers is simple once you know how. If you’re ready to get the smile of your dreams with Invisalign, come see the friendly dentists at Doctors Lake Family Dental. Our Certified Invisalign Providers provide teens and adults with Invisalign trays. We are happy to answer all of your questions and ensure you have the best experience possible. Contact our office in Fleming Island at 904-264-6700 or email us at admin@doctorslakefamilydental.com.