Exceptional Care, Exceptional Results
Throughout most of your treatment, you’ll be wearing and taking care of your aligners on your own. Proper care is essential for keeping your aligners intact between appointments — that’s why we’ve compiled this easy Invisalign care and cleaning guide for you to follow.
How to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners
- Rinse your aligners under lukewarm water that isn’t too hot or cold.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush without toothpaste to gently brush your entire aligner, inside and out. Try to use small, circular motions for the best results. Toothpaste can weaken your aligners and make them more prone to damage.
- After you’ve finished brushing, rinse the aligner again with lukewarm water.
- Take a look at your aligner — do you see a white film? This could be a buildup of tartar, which is hard to remove with a toothbrush.
- If you do notice a buildup, soak your aligner in the Invisalign Cleaning System to make your aligners crystal clear again. We recommend soaking your aligners once a day in the Invisalign cleaning crystals.
- After you’re done cleaning your aligner, you can either put it back in your mouth or in a case to dry.
FAQs About Invisalign Home Care
Can I drink hot or cold beverages while wearing Invisalign?
We recommend that you remove your Invisalign aligners prior to drinking anything besides cool water. Warmer liquids can warp or melt your trays. You can increase your risk of developing cavities because bacteria can linger on the surface of your aligners. In order to keep Invisalign clear, you’ll want to avoid drinking anything besides cool water while wearing your aligners.
Can drinks or food residue stain my Invisalign aligners?
Remnants of some foods can remain on your teeth and stain your aligners when you put them in your mouth. To keep your trays transparent, it’s always recommended to brush your teeth after every meal and avoid unsightly stains.
For the same reason, it’s recommended that you drink only water while wearing your Invisalign trays. Darker liquids can cause your aligners to become discolored and may trap sugary liquids between the trays and your teeth.
Will smoking or chewing tobacco stain Invisalign?
We recommend removing your aligners prior to the use of tobacco products. Not only are they known to stain, but chewing tobacco can get stuck in the ridges of your aligners which causes bacteria to grow, and can eventually lead to decay.
Many of the activities that can stain your teeth can also stain Invisalign, leaving a cloudy residue or discoloration. As a result, your teeth will appear stained and less attractive. To keep your teeth and your aligners in excellent condition, we recommend avoiding food, beverages, and tobacco products— with the exception of cool water, while wearing your aligners.
How can I reduce the likelihood of cracks or breaks in my Invisalign aligners?
On rare occasions, Invisalign aligners may crack or break when they are removed from the mouth. In most cases, this occurs during the beginning of a new phase of treatment when trays are tightest or when they undergo regular stress to the same spot.
When starting a new phase of treatment, it can be helpful to switch to your new aligner at night before bed. This gives your teeth a longer window of time while you sleep to adapt to the new trays instead of being removed while they’re tightest. It’s also helpful to alternate the sides you remove your aligners from to prevent consistent stress on one side of your tray.
What should I do if I lose or break an aligner?
Losing or breaking an aligner doesn’t have to be a crisis, but you should act fast to preserve the alignment of your teeth. Leaving your aligners out for more than a few hours can begin to reverse your treatment progress. For this reason, it’s advised that you keep your aligner from each previous phase of treatment to wear in case your current aligner is lost. Be sure that you keep only your most recent aligner as a backup, you don’t want to rely on one from further back in your treatment.
Contact Dr. Grussmark at the earliest opportunity to get a replacement for your lost or broken aligner. Do not move on to the alignment tray for your next phase of treatment unless instructed. Don’t be embarrassed or hesitant to report your lost aligner, you’ll lose less treatment time by acting quickly and keeping your orthodontist informed.
Ask Dr. Grussmark About Invisalign Care
Have a question you can’t find the answer to? Dr. Grussmark and our knowledgeable team members are one of the best resources for personalized answers. We’ll be happy to speak to you and make sure you’re informed about proper Invisalign care instructions.
You can easily contact us by calling our phone at (305) 441-1200 or by sending us a message through our online contact form. No question is too simple or complex for our help.
