When you get started with Invisalign near you, your dentist and their team will give you lots of materials and instructions about how to stay on track. One topic that will be included in all of your dentist’s instructions is this: the importance of keeping your aligners clean. Here is a collection of tips on how to do just that. After all, Invisalign should be invisible, and dirty isn’t invisible.
Five things to do
● Take your aligners out of your mouth as soon as you wake up, then brush your teeth and those aligners
● Every time you take your aligners out of your mouth, rinse them before putting them back in
● Before you ever put your aligners in your mouth, brush and floss your teeth first
● When you take your aligners out of your mouth, put them in a case and nowhere else
● When you brush your aligners, use only a soft-bristled toothbrush and be sure to brush them gently
Five things not to do
● Don’t ever eat anything or drink anything (other than room temperature water) while wearing your aligners
● Whenever you’re rinsing your aligners, don’t use hot water. Only use lukewarm water. Hot water may warp your aligners.
● Don’t clean your aligners any less than twice a day.
● Don’t wrap your aligners in a napkin or towel. Trust us. It’s too easy to lose them that way
● When you brush your aligners, don’t use toothpaste. It’s just too gritty and abrasive.
You can get a specialized Invisalign cleaning kit from your dentist
The staff at Oliver Family Dental can provide you with or tell you how to order Invisalign’s cleaning system. Invisalign’s system provides 50 packets of cleaning crystals that will keep your aligners clean and fresh and, at the very same time, remove plaque that can accumulate on your aligners if it’s on your teeth in the first place. (Those crystals contain ingredients designed to clean your aligners without causing any stains, odours or damage. If you run out, don’t use the system with any other product. Order more and pause using the system until you get them.) Using the Invisalign kit is as easy as following these five steps:
1. Rinse your aligners (under lukewarm water!)
2. Put your aligners in the container that comes with the kit, and fill it with (lukewarm!) water
3. Sprinkle the crystals from one packet into that container
4. Close the container and shake it for 20 seconds to get the crystals dissolved and distributed
5. Shake for 20 more seconds
6. Rinse your aligners with (you guessed it — lukewarm) water
But you can use your own materials just as effectively
You can clean your aligners with antibacterial hand or dish soap as long as it is gentle, clear (not deeply coloured) or strongly scented. Ask a dentist near you for a recommendation. The antibacterial ingredients will help to eliminate bacteria that can cause a foul taste and smell on your aligners. After cleaning your aligners with a soap product and a soft-bristled toothbrush, be sure to rinse the soap away thoroughly. (And for longer than you might expect to, to get rid of any foaming action.)Throughout your progress with Invisalign in Edmonton, and even between follow-up and check-in appointments, don’t forget that the whole team at your dental clinic in Edmonton is your partner in this journey with the same destination in mind. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Oliver Family Dental if you need advice, suggestions, ideas or products at any time.
