If you want a convenient way to straighten your teeth without the pain of metal braces, look no further than Invisalign aligners. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign aligners don’t require the same types of maintenance. Many patients love the ease of care and the aesthetic quality of Invisalign. These aligners are made of plastic so that they won’t disrupt any memorable photos.
With Invisalign aligners, you will wear a custom-made set for about two weeks. These aligners gently shift your teeth, and you don’t have to worry about metal poking your cheeks or gums. Additionally, you don’t have to change your diet as you do with traditional braces.
For example, you cannot chew gum or eat foods like tortilla chips or popcorn. These foods can damage the brackets or metal of braces. However, you simply remove the plastic trays from your mouth while you eat. As a result, your diet doesn’t need to change.
Although Invisalign aligners are more comfortable and convenient, you should know how to clean them to keep your mouth healthy.
Clean Them Nightly
Much like your actual teeth, it is important to clean your aligners at least once a day. It is preferable to clean your aligners before you go to bed. If you clean them before bed, you don’t have to sleep with food particles and bacteria trapped against your teeth.
The harmful bacteria that grow in your mouth can be detrimental to your oral health. Cleaning your aligners before bed helps reduce the amount of plaque in your mouth as you sleep.
If you don’t clean your aligners, you could increase your chances of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Tray aligners keep plaque close to your teeth and gums. As a result, your gums can become inflamed or damage your enamel. Additionally, not cleaning your aligners can result in bad breath. Also, the plaque can cause your aligners to turn yellow, removing their invisible quality.
Don’t Use Abrasives
If you want to keep your aligners clean, it can be tempting to use harsh chemicals or scrub really hard. However, you could damage the aligners, making them less effective. When you clean your aligners, you should avoid using harsh chemicals because you can damage the plastic trays.
Additionally, you have to put the aligners in your mouth, so harsh chemicals can be dangerous. Even if you rinse well, some of those chemicals can linger, making you sick. In addition, harsh chemicals can damage your enamel.
When cleaning your aligners, you should also avoid using a hard-bristled brush. This is because hard bristles can leave tiny scratches on the surface of your plastic trays. Unfortunately, this can create a space for bacteria to grow and thrive.
In addition, this is why you should avoid using any cleaner that has abrasive materials. The bacteria will grow in the scratches, but it will be difficult to remove them. This can also cause the yellowing of your aligners.
Instead, you can use a mild dish soap with a soft toothbrush to clean your Invisalign aligners.