About 14 million people have improved the appearance of their smiles with Invisalign treatment. Once you’ve completed the treatment process, you’ll need to wear Invisalign retainers to maintain your new smile. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to clean Invisalign retainers the right way.
Neglecting to clean your retainers properly could cause discoloration. You could put your oral health at risk, too.
Read on to learn how to maintain the results of your Invisalign treatment. Use these Invisalign care tips to properly clean your aligners today.
Always Remove Your Trays
Before learning how to clean Invisalign retainers, it’s important to learn how to care for your retainers. Neglecting to develop the proper routine could impact the results of your Invisalign treatment.
First, always remove your aligners before eating or drinking beverages besides water. Otherwise, foods can discolor the aligners, keeping your smile from looking clean and bright. Certain foods can even damage your aligners, impacting their efficiency.
Eating with your Invisalign retainers still in place can cause food particles and bacteria to get stuck between your teeth and the trays. Bacteria, food particles, and saliva can mix to form plaque.
Plaque is the clear, tacky substance that can increase your risk of tooth decay.
You’ll need to maintain proper oral hygiene to clean plaque away. Otherwise, it can harden into tartar. You’ll need to schedule a professional dental cleaning to have tartar removed.
In addition to increasing the risk of tooth decay, your risk of gum disease can rise. Gum disease and periodontitis are major causes of tooth loss in adults. Gum disease can also increase your risk of stroke, lung disease, heart disease, and diabetes.
Instead, remove your aligners before meals. Make sure to place your aligners in their designated case. Don’t place your aligners in a napkin (you might accidentally throw them away!).
Keeping your aligners in their case will keep bacteria from collecting against the plastic.
After eating, brush and floss your teeth. Then, put your aligners back in place to maintain the results of your Invisalign treatment.
Rinse and Brush
Each time you remove your Invisalign aligners before a meal, make sure to rinse and brush them.
When rinsing your aligners, make sure to use water that’s neither too hot nor too cold. Otherwise, extreme temperatures can warp the plastic. Your aligners won’t fit properly, impacting their ability to maintain your straight smile.
Instead, use lukewarm water to remove plaque and bacteria.
While rinsing your aligners, brush them using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Don’t use toothpaste when brushing your aligners. Toothpaste is abrasive, which could cause scratches against the plastic.
If your aligners start to smell or look discolored, it’s likely plaque and bacteria have formed against the plastic. You can use an unscented, colorless, gentle liquid soap and a toothbrush to clean the trays.
Make sure to rinse all of the soap away before placing the aligners back into your mouth.
Once you develop your routine, stick to it. Make cleaning your aligners a daily habit.
Otherwise, you could give bacteria an opportunity to build against the plastic or your teeth.
Use the Invisalign System
You can also clean your Invisalign trays using the Invisalign cleaning system. Their cleaning crystals can thoroughly and effectively clean your retainers.
Regular deep cleaning can ensure your Invisalign retainers last for years. Otherwise, you could give bacteria and plaque the chance to form against the plastic. Using the Invisalign cleaning system is ideal if you don’t want to use a DIY solution.
First, remove your Invisalign retainers. Rinse them under lukewarm water and give them a quick brushing.
Next, place the retainers in a bowl or container containing lukewarm water. Add and mix a packet of Invisalign cleaning crystals into the water until the crystals completely dissolve. Let your retainers soak in the solution for about 15 minutes.
Once the 15 minutes have lapsed, remove your retainers from the solution and rinse them with lukewarm water.
Make Your Own
There are many retainer cleaning solutions available for purchase. However, you might want to create your own solution instead.
For example, you can use distilled white vinegar.
After rinsing and brushing your aligners, let them sit in a solution that’s one part distilled white vinegar and three parts lukewarm water. Stir the solution and let the retainers soak for 15 to 30 minutes. Distilled white vinegar can remove plaque and bacteria from your retainers.
Not only is white vinegar safe, but it’s also effective at deodorizing retainers.
If you don’t have distilled white vinegar, consider using hydrogen peroxide instead. Mix equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide together and stir. Then, let your retainers sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
You can also use retainer cleaning tablets. Place a tablet in lukewarm water and stir or shake the container until the tablet has dissolved. Then, let your retainers soak for 15 minutes.
Consider consulting your orthodontist for more tips before using a DIY solution.
Avoid Basic Mistakes
If you want to experience the benefits of Invisalign treatment long-term, make sure you’re avoiding common Invisalign care mistakes. Otherwise, you could warp or damage your retainers.
First, avoid cleaning your retainers with harsh ingredients. Don’t use solutions that contain color dyes, which can discolor the plastic. For example, you shouldn’t clean your retainers with mouthwash.
Avoid rinsing the retainers in hot or cold water, which can cause the plastic to warp.
Don’t leave your retainers sitting out, either. Otherwise, bacteria buildup can occur.
Squeaky Clean: Learn How to Clean Invisalign Retainers Today
Learning how to clean Invisalign retainers can ensure their longevity. Then you can experience the benefits of straight teeth and a stunning smile for years to come. If you have more questions about cleaning your retainers, make sure to talk to your orthodontist.
With their help, you can keep your retainers squeaky clean to ensure the results of your Invisalign treatment.
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