Dr. Eddy Sauer, Jr. and Dr. Nathaniel Avirett are proud to offer Invisalign®, an invisible alternative to braces and traditional orthodontics. The clear plastic aligner trays help shift your teeth into a more ideal position, and they are difficult to detect even when people are up close. It’s convenient for adults and teens who have crooked teeth and want to experience the benefits of orthodontic treatment without major interruptions in their normal routine.
Many of our Invisalign patients in the Amarillo and Pampa, TX area have questions about cleaning their aligner trays and good oral hygiene. Below is a simple rundown of how to clean Invisalign aligners and good oral hygiene practices during treatment.
Why Oral Hygiene Matters
Good oral hygiene is crucial to fighting tooth decay and gum disease. When you’re undergoing Invisalign treatment, keeping your mouth and aligners clean plays a few key roles in the success of treatment:
- Avoiding Stains on Aligner Trays – Invisalign aligner trays can stain easily, which is why they have to be removed when patients eat or drink any beverages other than cold water. Proper cleaning helps prevent stains from forming and making your aligner trays visible when they are in place.
- Preventing Cavities and Periodontal Problems – If food particles remain on your teeth for long periods of time, it can seriously increase your risk of developing cavities and gum disease. Good hygiene keeps your mouth clean.
- Avoiding Bad Breath – Invisalign aligners stay on for most of the day. If food particles are caught on your aligners or between your teeth, it can lead to some lingering bad breath. Good hygiene will help avoid issues with unpleasant odors.
How to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners
Cleaning Invisalign aligners is rather straightforward. Take your aligners out and give them a good scrubbing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive gel toothpaste. Be gentle but thorough, covering all surfaces of the aligner tray. When finished, rinse off the aligner with cold water and put in back in your mouth.
There are proprietary Invisalign cleaning kits available if you want to invest in those. Generally, however, a simple toothbrush and toothpaste are all you need.
How Often You Should Clean Your Invisalign Aligners
You should clean your Invisalign aligners at least once a night. This will help keep your mouth clean when the aligner tray is in place as you sleep. You should consider cleaning your aligner tray more often as needed. Be sure to use your best judgement.
Brushing and Flossing Your Teeth During Invisalign Treatment
In addition to cleaning off your Invisalign aligners, you should continue to brush and floss regularly. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. You should ideally consider brushing and flossing after every meal in order to keep your breath fresh and to remove all food particles before putting your aligner trays back on.
Attend Invisalign Visits and Regular Checkups
As you’re undergoing Invisalign treatment, be sure to continue going to your regular dental checkups as well as orthodontic treatment visits. These will help ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy and that the Invisalign procedure is going according to plan.
Learn More About Invisalign
For more information about Invisalign and how it help you have straight teeth and a beautiful smile, contact our skilled cosmetic and restorative dentists. You can reach Shemen Dental Group by phone in Amarillo at (806) 358-2472.
