Easy Invisalign Alignment Tray Maintenance Tips | Dr. Alex Midtown NYC Cosmetic Dentist

Easy Invisalign Alignment Tray Maintenance Tips

One reason most people prefer Invisalign over wearing traditional braces is because patients are still able to maintain their dignity while improving their smiles. Traditional braces are bulky while Invisalign trays are clear. Another perk of Invisalign tray is that they don’t limit what a patient can eat since they are removable.

However, without proper maintenance, Invisalign trays can discolor over time and even start to smell bad. There are ways you can keep your aligners crystal clear and avoid discoloration and odor so that you can confidently smile throughout your Invisalign treatment plan.

Brush Your Invisalign Trays Twice A Day

Treat your Invisalign trays just like your smile. Every time you brush your teeth, ensure that you brush your trays too. Use regular toothpaste that does not contain any harsh chemicals or abrasives to clean your aligners. In most cases, dental professionals provide an Invisalign cleaning kit for this purpose. Be careful as you brush the alignment trays and examine for signs of discoloration to ensure that you are cleaning them properly.

Soak Alignment Trays During Meals

You are supposed to remove your alignment trays when eating. Once you remove the trays, soak them in a mixture of mouth rinse and water, or in plain water. This helps to keep the trays safe and also helps to remove food items, bacteria and plaque before they have a chance to stick to your aligners. Soaking in a mouth rinsing solution helps to keep your aligners minty fresh as well.

Do Not Leave Your Trays Out In The Open

When you take off your alignment trays, never leave them out in the open. Leaving them exposed to air promotes bacteria buildup, making it more likely that you will lose them. If you need to remove the trays for a moment, ensure that you place them in their case. If you happen to leave them out for a long period of time, ensure that you soak them first and then rinse the aligners before putting them on again.

Quit Smoking

You should quit smoking while wearing these aligners. Smoking not only stains your teeth, but also discolors alignment trays, turning them into a yellow-orange color. If you are unable to quit smoking, remove your aligners before doing so.

Clean Your Teeth Regularly

You managed to keep your aligners clean. If your teeth are not clean, the aligners will still get dirty in no time. Ensure that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. Floss once daily. When you don’t have time to brush your teeth after a meal, rinse your mouth with water to remove food particles.

What To Avoid

In order to ensure that your Invisalign treatment is a success, there are certain habits that you need to avoid, including:

  • Avoid chewing gum when wearing aligners. Always check for warping, breaks or cracks and let your orthodontist know right away if you require new aligners
  • Avoid brushing too hard as you will inadvertently wear down the ridges that hold the trays to your teeth
  • Do not use warm or hot water to clean alignment trays since this can damage them
Book Appointment