How Can You Take Care of Your Invisalign?

Invisalign is an excellent alternative to traditional metal braces. With Invisalign, you can straighten your teeth without anyone ever noticing. Here are some tips to take care of your Invisalign aligners:

Clean Your Aligners and Teeth

While wearing your aligners, it’s important to brush and floss your teeth regularly to keep your teeth and gums healthy and clean. The aligners can trap food particles and bacteria if they are not properly cleaned, which can increase the risk of cavities or gum disease.

To brush your teeth with Invisalign aligners, follow these simple steps:

Brush and rinse your aligners with warm water:

Remove the aligners from your mouth and gently rinse them off with water before brushing to remove any loose debris.

Place a drop of toothpaste on the bristles of your toothbrush:

Apply a small drop of toothpaste to the bristles of your toothbrush. Avoid using too much toothpaste on your toothbrush, as it can add extra material to your aligners that can get caught between your teeth.

Brush your teeth:

Gently scrub your teeth with your toothbrush in a circular motion to clean the surface of your teeth and the inside of your aligners. Be very gentle when brushing the aligners, as rough motions can damage the plastic and cause scratches on the surface.

When finished brushing, rinse your aligners out again to ensure that they clean thoroughly.

When you are finished, place the aligners back in your mouth and continue wearing them as usual.

If needed, you can also soak your aligner in denture cleaner once a week to help remove any additional buildup that has built up.

Invisalign clear aligners are removable for eating, drinking, and cleaning your teeth, making it easy to care for them while you are wearing them.

Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods

One easy way to take better care of your Invisalign aligners is to avoid eating foods that are hard or sticky. These foods can stick to your aligner, which can damage the resin and make it less comfortable to wear. If you accidentally eat something harmful like this while wearing your trays, rinse your mouth with water before brushing your teeth and re-insert the tray right away. Rinse again if you need to. Once your teeth are clean, you can remove the trays and enjoy the rest of your day!

Wear Your Aligners as Directed

Wearing your Invisalign as prescribed is very important to the success of your treatment, as well as achieving a beautiful and healthy smile! You should wear each set of aligners for about 20-22 hours per day, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss your teeth or during special occasions when your dentist advises you to remove them.

If you consistently do not wear your aligners for the recommended amount of time each day, you may not see optimal results. For best results, be sure to keep your teeth and gums clean by brushing after every meal or snack and flossing at least once daily.

Call us at 773-880-2310 or email us at office@sheffieldsquaredental.com to schedule your appointment. Visit Sheffield Square Dental Care at 2835 N. Sheffield Ave, Suite 305, Chicago, IL 60657.