Invisalign is a great alternative to braces for achieving a straight, beautiful smile but with the ability to remove your aligners during the straightening process, there is added responsibility especially when it comes to keeping them clean. To help reduce odors, stains, and bacteria from building up in your Invisalign aligners, consider these tips!
1. Always rinse our aligners when you take them out
When you breathe, the bacteria in your mouth is exposed to the air you breathe in and the saliva in your mouth washes this bacteria away, reducing the chances of bad breath. The same goes for your Invisalign aligners, but when your aligners are out of your mouth they do not have the protection of your saliva. To help reduce bacteria from building up in your aligners and causing odors, always rinse out your aligners before putting them back in your mouth even if you take them out quickly to eat.
2. Brush and floss before wearing your aligners
Before placing your clean aligners in your mouth, make sure to brush and floss your teeth! If you’ve been eating, food particles can get trapped before the aligners and your teeth, causing bacteria to build up that causes bad breath, gum problems, and tooth decay.
3. Soak your aligners regularly
The key to keeping your Invisalign aligners clean and bacteria-free is soaking them regularly. We highly recommend soaking your aligners at least once a week with an aligner cleaning solution, such as Retainer Brite, denture cleaner, or another Invisalign-certified cleaner. The fizz that the tablets create when dropped in water help to sanitize the aligner as well as get into any nooks and crannies.
After soaking your aligners, make sure to rinse them off before putting them back in your mouth.
