Cleaning and caring for your Invisalign®

Take care of your Invisalign

With a moment’s notice, you can remove your Invisalign clear aligners for meals and photo opportunities. It is one of the major benefits of Invisalign; discrete aligners that correct your teeth without interrupting your routine.

While it’s fantastic that Invisalign lets you enjoy any food you want, any food particles left in the retainer can cause tooth decay and produce an unpleasant odor. Although Invisalign doesn’t disrupt your day-to-day life, you will need to develop some new habits during treatment. These slight modifications will help you get the most out of your treatment.

How to clean your Invisalign aligners

Cleaning your Invisalign aligners only takes a few minutes. To ensure the best clean, you’ll need to brush your aligners each time you brush your teeth twice each day. It’s easy to incorporate brushing your aligners into your dental care routine.

No need to invest in additional brushes or paste! Use the same toothbrush and toothpaste that you use to clean your teeth for cleaning your aligners. If you have a snack and are unable to break away to brush, rinsing your mouth and aligners vigorously with water is sufficient until you can thoroughly clean.

  1. Start by turning on the faucet and adjusting the water temperature, so it’s not too hot or too cold.
  2. Hold the retainer in the palm of your hand, and gently use a toothbrush to apply toothpaste to its surface.
  3. Scrub every inch of the aligner using small circular motions. You may also find it useful to use a cotton tip applicator to clean deep into the tooth-well.
  4. Your aligners will change so often that it is not necessary to worry about calcium build-up or staining.
  5. Depending on your specific movement needs, you will switch to new aligners anywhere from three to seven days.
  6. Once you have completed the cleaning, place the aligner directly back in your mouth.

Taking care of your Invisalign is more than just cleaning

There’s more to caring for Invisalign than just cleaning. Because they are so transparent, many people find they misplace their aligners. Much like contact lenses, it’s a good practice to put them immediately in their case when not in use. This mindfulness helps ensure that you always know where your aligners are.

It’s a smart idea to carry at least three pairs of aligners with you when you are away from home. You can keep them in your purse, backpack, or glove box. If you are planning on traveling out of town, bring enough aligners for your current set, your previous set, and your next set.

You may think that your case is hard to lose. But ask any Invisalign user, and they will tell you that it’s small enough to be misplaced. Having a spare case will ease your mind when you eventually lose your case.

Some people find it helpful to make a small kit with all of these essentials in it. Preparing a go-bag with toothpaste, a toothbrush, backup aligners, and a spare case can help alleviate any stress of losing your Invisalign while away from home.

A few more precautions to keep in mind

Invisalign aligners are made of thermoplastic that is engineered to fit in your mouth comfortably. Because of its material, you should be cautious when drinking hot beverages like coffee or tea because these can warp your aligner and affect your dentition.

If you’re away from home, it can be helpful to do mini-cleans after every meal. For example, after a meal out, excuse yourself to the restroom and give your aligners a brief rinse. Be careful, though. Water that is too hot can distort your aligners.

Your orthodontist will be able to give you a more thorough run-down of how to care for your Invisalign system.

Asheville's most trusted and affordable Invisalign provider

Invisalign aligners are revolutionary and help more and more people get the smile they’ve always wanted.

But great results don’t happen overnight. You need to invest time and effort to get that radiant smile you’ve always wanted. By properly cleaning your retainer and following these simple steps, you can prepare for any bumps in your smile journey.

At Black Orthodontics, we are proud to offer Invisalign solutions that match everyone’s budget. Find out what makes Black Orthodontics remarkable by contacting us, or making an appointment online for your free smile assessment. We offer in-office appointments as well as convenient virtual consultations.