Patients love Invisalign braces because they are highly effective at fixing a range of dental problems, and unlike traditional fixed braces, you can take them out while you eat. This means that no foods are off limits and you don’t have to go without your favourite foods like corn on the cob or crusty bread for the duration of your treatment. As Invisalign braces aren’t fixed, you’ll need to make sure they stay clean and hygienic for the duration of your treatment. This leads many people to wonder how to clean Invisalign braces in a way that will retain the transparent appearance?
As you will be putting them in and taking them out when you eat and sleep, you’ll need to have a system in place for keeping them clean and hygienic. The combination of saliva, food debris and plaque can lead to some rather unpleasant smells, which might mean you start avoiding wearing them. For the treatment to be successful, you need to wear them as instructed, so it’s important to learn how to clean Invisalign braces.
The only product recommended by Invisalign is Retainer Brite. You can buy a month’s supply for around £5, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank to clean your aligners. It’s a very simple product. You simply dissolve the tablet in warm water (not hot) and place your retainer in the bubbly blue solution. After 10-15 minutes, the blue colour should clear and that’s how you know your Invisalign aligner is hygienically clean and odour-free.
When it comes to keeping your Invisalign aligners looking bright and transparent, there are a few things that can dull their sparkle and also create a breeding ground for bacteria. A quick search around the internet will reveal some really dangerous and hazardous cleaning techniques that you will certainly want to avoid. Here are some of the ways you definitely shouldn’t be cleaning your aligners.
You will need to soak your aligners in a cleaning solution once per day, but you should also think about how to clean Invisalign braces throughout the day and between meals. When you take your aligners out at meal times, you should always rinse them before popping them back in. And finally, you should never eat or drink anything other than water while you are wearing your aligners as there is the risk the aligners could break or hot drinks might distort the shape.
Just because your teeth will be covered by your Invisalign braces for most of the day, it doesn’t mean you can skimp on oral hygiene. It’s important to brush and floss twice a day as this will ensure your teeth stay in excellent condition throughout the treatment.
