Taking care of your Invisalign is a fairly simple process, particularly since they were designed to be easily removed for when you want to eat and drink. However, one of the secret to brilliant smiles is that just because Invisalign can be taken out, doesn’t mean you can forget about the necessary cleaning – keeping it clean and free of germs is part of the overall treatment, and failing to do so can result in unforeseen consequences.
Invisalign works best when it is invisible, and keeping it clean is the best way of keeping it invisible. Cleaning your Invisalign is what keeps it from smelling, but also keeps it from building up bacteria and plaque which can wear away at your enamel and teeth.
Caring for Invisalign is a very easy process, and one which more people should follow. This article will give a list of the best tips for taking care of things.
Rinse Every Time
Make sure that you rinse your Invisalign every single time you take it out. It doesn’t need to be a complete clean every single time (though those are important as well), but it will help to keep things under control, and avoid any significant build-up of bacteria.
Soak Your Invisalign
Most Invisalign will come with a set of specialised cleaning crystal which dissolve in water, and can be used to clean your equipment. Soak your Invisalign regularly in the solution to keep them clean and working at peak efficiency.
Clean your Teeth
Yes, you have Invisalign, but you still need to observe basic hygiene. Clean your teeth, including around the area that your Invisalign would be in, and make sure that your mouth is as free of bacteria and plaque as possible. Use a good toothbrush and toothpaste. Flossing is also a good idea, as it helps to reach into those hard to get to areas, and mouthwash can be helpful (although not immediately after, because it washes away the fluoride. Try using mouthwash after acidic food and drink).
Use Soft Soap
Remember that any soap you use to clean your Invisalign must be safe for consumption, as you will most likely ingest some over the course of time. The best choice of soap would be a clear, soft soap with anti-bacterial properties, to specifically fight against bacteria which can lead to plaque build-up.
Specifically avoid colourful or scented soap, as this can not only lead to an unpleasant taste in your mouth (since most scents are made through chemicals), but can also stain your Invisalign permanently.
Be Careful when Cleaning
Tread carefully when cleaning your Invisalign – you do need to clean it thoroughly, but being too harsh can lead to damage to the Invisalign, leaving it scratched and visibly marked. Cleaning is important, but just as we can sometimes have the same problem when brushing and otherwise cleaning our teeth too zealously, there can come a time when we can overdo the cleaning of our Invisalign as well.