How Do I Clean My [Invisalign]?

Posted | Invisalign

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How Do I Clean My Invisalign?

If you’re one of the millions of people who are considering getting Invisalign, you may have some questions. One of them may be about cleaning the aligners. Aligners have a completely different set of rules than regular braces do, and they have a different set of strengths and limitations. The following information will tell you how to clean your Invisalign aligners. It will also give you some information about wearing your aligners and maximizing the benefits that you get from them during your recovery.

Wearing Your Aligners

One of the features that clients cherish most about Invisalign is that they aren’t permanently set like braces are. Braces have many advantages to them, but they don’t’ come off with ease like the aligners do. Aligner patients don’t have to keep their aligners on for a full 24 hours either. The treatment plan only requires them to stay on for 22 hours a day, which leaves ample time for eating, drinking and cleaning one’s teeth. It also leaves time for the person to properly clean the aligners. Taking the time to properly clean the aligners can enhance and improve oral health during the treatment.

How to Clean Your Teeth With Invisalign

Unlike with other forms of alignment treatment, the aligners must come out of the mouth to receive an effective treatment session. It’s best if you clean the aligners at the same time you do all of your extensive daily dental hygiene work. That way, you can cut down the possibility of getting too much bacterial growth in your mouth. To effectively clean your teeth, you’ll need to rinse with water or mouthwash. Swish the liquid around for about 30 seconds and try to get it in between the teeth. Next, take some floss and clean between all of your teeth. Lastly, brush your teeth. You can end your session by using mouthwash again just for freshening purposes. Alternatively, you could do your initial rinse with water and your second rinse with mouthwash.

How to Clean Your Aligners

Aligner cleaning is nothing like the way that you clean metal brackets. All you need to do is take your aligners out of your mouth. When you get them out of your mouth, grab a toothbrush. Put some toothpaste on that toothbrush. Brush every part of your aligner just as you would do with your teeth. When you are done brushing, and you feel as though you have done a satisfactory job, you can rinse the aligners. You may be tempted to use hot water on the aligners, but please don’t. You may cause damage to them if you do it that way. It’s best to use lukewarm water to do the job.

You could opt not to use toothpaste on your aligner as some orthodontist recommendations are against it. If that’s the case, you can just brush your aligners with plain water, and that will help you to keep them in good shape. The point is to at least try to clean them something so that film doesn’t develop on them.

If you want to deep clean your aligners, you can create a solution using vinegar and water and brush them with that. Another thing you can do is use hydrogen peroxide with water and set them in it for a good 30 minutes. Those are some methods that will work for you if you want to keep your aligners super clean. You should clean them once a day and perhaps deep clean them once a week for the two weeks that you will wear them. You’ll be changing your aligners after two weeks of treatment with the previous set. Therefore, you don’t have to be perfect at cleaning them, but you do have to make an effort.

Tips for Maximizing Your Recovery

Cleaning is one part of maximizing your recovery so that you can get your gorgeous smile sooner. You’ll also want to ensure that you wear your aligners for the full 22 hours so that they can do the job that they need to do on your teeth. Additionally, you’ll need to contact the caregiver if you have any issues, problems, questions or concerns about your corrective devices. Communication is the key to making sure that your treatment goes smoothly.

Call Tisseront Orthodontics Today To Schedule an Appointment

At Tisseront Orthodontics in Reston, Va., you can have an examination from our knowledgeable orthodontist. Dr. Stephen Tisseront provides orthodontic treatments for adults, teenagers, and children with these devices:

• Aligners – designed using Invisalign software
• Braces – metal, ceramic and lingual
• Retainers – to keep teeth in position after orthodontic treatment ends
• Surgical orthodontics – removal of baby or extra teeth

Our patients can have iTero archwires designed at our orthodontic office, and we also offer Acceledent Aura devices to reduce treatment time. Call us today at 703-773-1200 to schedule an examination with Dr. Tisseront in our state-of-the-art orthodontic facility.

Tisseront Orthodontics
11720 Plaza America Drive, Ste. 110 Reston VA 20190-4762

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