How To Clean Invisalign? Step-by-Step Guide
If you regularly use Invisalign, one of your major concerns would be, ‘How to clean Invisalign?’ Maintaining hygiene is essential for any appliance used in the mouth. One may forget to clean them regularly, but that can lead to discoloration and wearing off those Invisalign. In this article, we will explain all the recommended methods to clean Invisalign.
Why Is It Important to Clean Invisalign?
Invisalign are clear retainers that not only help close the gaps between the teeth but also help align crooked teeth, overbite, crossbite, and tiled teeth. Unlike metallic braces, Invisalign is aesthetic, pain-free, and easier to maintain. To understand how to clean Invisalign, you must first understand why it is important to clean them.
Being on your teeth all day long, Invisalign gets dirty. Food debris and bacteria form buildups on the Invisalign. Therefore, you must make a habit of washing your aligners as well whenever you brush your teeth.
Ideally, you should brush your teeth twice every day. So, don’t forget to clean your aligners after you brush your teeth. This is a very important practice because hygiene of both the teeth and aligners is necessary to maintain oral health. If, for some reason, you can not clean them properly, you should at least rinse invisalign.
What Happens When You Don’t Clean Invisalign?
You would better understand the answer to how to clean Invisalign if you grasped what would happen when you do not maintain their hygiene.
You may experience:
Halitosis
Halitosis is known as bad breath. When the aligners are not cleaned properly, bacteria and food particles accumulate on them. As a result of food deposition, a bad smell takes over the mouth. Many people opt for taking mints and mouth-freshening sprays, but they do not nip the evil in the bud. There would be no requirement for mouth freshers if hygiene is maintained, as the mouth would be clean and bacteria-free.
Discoloration
One of the major disadvantages of not cleaning Invisalign is discoloration. The clear and transparent nature of the aligners becomes faded and attains a yellowish hue. That yellowish hue makes the teeth look yellow, which gives them an aesthetic appeal.
Bacterial Overload
An unhygienic environment always acts as a magnet for bacteria. When Invisalign is not cleaned properly, then bacterial colonies increase in number, increasing your probability of falling sick. These bacteria can potentially cause various periodontal and gum diseases as well.
How To Clean Invisalign?
After understanding why it is important to clean them and what consequences you can face by not maintaining hygiene, let’s develop a thorough understanding of the best methods to clean clear aligners.
How To Clean Invisalign With Vinegar?
Yes, vinegar. Vinegar is 5% acetic acid and is found in almost every home. Vinegar is preferred as a cleanser due to its anti-microbial properties, as proven by the research. If you use Invisalign and have vinegar at home, you have the answer to ‘How to clean Invisalign?’ in your palm.
However, using concentrated vinegar is not recommended.
- You should dilute 1 part of distilled water and 3 parts of white vinegar in a bowl.
- Mix it well, and then immerse your aligners in the solution for 15-20 minutes. This process will help remove any plaque-like hard build-ups or food accumulations from them.
- Use a soft, manual toothbrush to cleanse the aligners.
- Once it’s done, remove the aligners from that solution and soak them in plain water for 5-10 minutes. This is necessary as it will fade and minimize the strong scent of vinegar.
How To Clean Invisalign With Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is yet another best agent to cleanse aligners with. Hydrogen peroxide is ideal for removing the stains or discoloration of Invisalign. It is pretty simple. You need to mix equal amounts of lukewarm water and hydrogen peroxide. Soak your aligners in that solution for 20 minutes, remove and rinse, and then use them again. Stains are often difficult to remove, so you may need to try repeatedly.
How To Clean Invisalign With Baking Soda?
The answer to ‘How to clean Invisalign?’ is made even simpler in this section.
- All you need is a bowl, a tablespoon of baking soda, and half a cup of water.
- In this solution, you need to submerge your aligners for about 1 hour(60 minutes).
- After 1 hour, remove them and use them.
This is an effective but time-consuming process. You can always alternate your cleaning methods during the week.
How To Clean Invisalign With Toothpaste?
The simplest of all is toothpaste. You regularly brush your teeth twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Similarly, you can use a soft, manual toothbrush with toothpaste to clean the aligners. This is also an effective and quick practice.
How To Cleanse Invisalign With Sterialigner?
What is a Sterialigner? Sterialigner is a solution that is used for the optimal cleansing of aligners. The Sterialigner comes with a tray. This is one of the quickest methods to cleanse aligners. You just need to soak them in a tray containing rubbing alcohol and sodium bicarbonate. After 3 minutes, you have to rinse them with lukewarm water, and that’s it!
How To Clean Invisalign With Cleaning Crystals?
Aligners can be conveniently cleansed using cleaning crystals. These cleaning crystals comprise sodium sulfate. Whether it is deep cleansing of aligners, removal of plaque deposits, or dealing with discoloration, these cleaning agents are ideal. Usually, aligners have to be placed in this solution for about 20-30 minutes, followed by rinsing with plain water and using them.
What Not To Use to Clean Aligners?
Where hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are aligner-friendly, various agents are not. You should not use the following to clean aligners as they have adverse effects on them:
- Mouthwashes
- Dishwashers
- Cleaning soaps
- Hot or boiling water
- Bleach
What Not To Do When Using Aligners?
Following is a set of guidelines that must be adopted to increase the efficacy and longevity of aligners:
- Do not eat or drink with aligners on your teeth. Specifically, avoid acidic and sticky food as they loosen and discolor the aligners. Always eat and drink after removing them.
- Smoking will stain your aligners. Smoking is hazardous to health; therefore, you should avoid it. However, if you can not avoid it, smoke after removing the aligners.
Book Your Consultation with Our Dental Experts in Montclair, NJ
To sum it up, Invisalign has made the lives of patients with dental irregularities easy, but maintaining oral hygiene and cleanliness of the aligners is equally important. Various agents are aligner-friendly, while others have a negative impact.
You can get your custom-made aligners by availing of the Invisalign services in Montclair, NJ, at Dr. Arthur Yeh and Associates. Book your appointment today in Montclair, NJ, for a budget-friendly and personalized plan.
