How to Clean Invisalign Trays

There are many benefits and perks of having Invisalign aligners in comparison to traditional metal braces. But if you don’t spend time properly cleaning out your Invisalign trays, they won’t make all the necessary changes to your teeth, and your investment in Invisalign may end up being a waste. Knowing how to clean Invisalign trays is crucial.

Prevent wasting your time and money by taking good care of your Invisalign trays. Cleaning them is easy, but it is important to clean them regularly. Below, our downtown Los Angeles Samaritan Dental Arts pros highlight the best ways to clean your Invisalign aligners, giving you the full extent of benefits that these miraculous clear aligners can bring.

Clean Your Invisalign in the Morning – and the Evening

Get into the habit of cleaning your Invisalign trays first thing in the morning. During the night, while you sleep, bacteria love to build up on the surface of your teeth – even if you are actively wearing your aligners. This is the same reason it’s a good idea to brush your teeth first thing in the morning – wipe away that layer of bacteria so it can’t cause an infection!

Clean your aligners in the morning by rinsing them with water. The Invisalign website recommends cleaning your aligners and your trays thoroughly each morning and evening. You can use water and a soft brush to scrub them gently, or you can use recommended anti-bacterial soap in addition to water.

Never soak your Invisalign trays in mouthwash. The chemicals may damage the tray and the aligners and distort them so they no longer fit.

Soak Once Per Day – And Brush Your Teeth

You should always brush and floss your teeth while your aligners are out. When you soak your aligners, which you should do once a day, you should also be caring for your natural teeth.

We recommend soaking your aligners in a denture cleaner or the Invisalign crystals that you will receive when you are fitted for your Invisalign aligners. It’s essential to soak your trays once per day to prevent the buildup of bacteria that can come from leftover food particles in your mouth.

Never leave your Invisalign trays out. Make sure to store them in their proper case when they aren’t being used; again, this is to prevent a buildup of bacteria.

One more thing – when using a soft toothbrush to clean your aligners, make sure it is not the same toothbrush that you use on your teeth.

Cleaning Your Invisalign Aligners – What NOT To Do

Learning the proper way to clean your aligners is easy, but you also need to know what not to do to keep your teeth healthy and clean.

Make sure never to use scented soaps when cleaning your trays, for the same reason you don’t want to use mouthwash. There could be too many chemicals involved that ruin the shape or structure of your aligners.

You also shouldn’t eat or drink when your Invisalign aligners are in your mouth. They aren’t meant to be used that way and could get damaged easily. Not to mention, it’s too easy to get bacteria and food particles stuck in the aligners. These can stain them or prevent them from working properly.

Get Fitted for Invisalign Today!

Invisalign braces are wildly popular, and for a good reason. Not only do they look and feel better than traditional braces, but they are also easier to wear. You can remove them while you eat and brush your teeth with simple instructions for how to clean them. Our orthodontists at Samaritan Dental Arts are happy to provide you with more information about Invisalign during your next consultation. To learn more, contact us online or give us a call at (213) 986-2933.