Many people can straighten crooked teeth and close gaps in their smiles with Invisalign. These translucent plastic aligners are made on a custom basis for each patient. The dental patient wears them throughout the day, and the aligners gradually push the teeth into the desired straight position.
The clear color of the Invisalign aligners creates a discreet appearance over the teeth, especially compared to the harsh metal wires and brackets of traditional braces. A casual observer may not notice you wearing Invisalign, so you can look forward to these appliances not disrupting the look of your smile during treatment.
But you must properly care for and clean Invisalign if you want to preserve the aligners’ appearance. Read on to find advice from your dentist on keeping your Invisalign looking pristine during your teeth-straightening treatment.
Remove Invisalign During Meals
One of the appeals of Invisalign compared to other orthodontic solutions is the ability to remove the aligners from the mouth. Braces feature fixed brackets on the teeth, and an orthodontist will ask you to avoid certain foods so that you do not break the delicate wires.
With Invisalign, your dentist will request that you take Invisalign out of your mouth when eating and drinking. This way, you can enjoy the foods you usually eat without restrictions due to your teeth-straightening treatment.
Removing Invisalign as you eat will reduce mess within the aligners where food can easily become trapped. This keeps the fixtures clean. And you do not have to worry about staining the aligners.
Foods with staining agents, like coffee and red wine, can easily transfer discoloration to translucent Invisalign. The aligners can begin to appear dark or yellow. And you cannot remove these stains on your own. This can disrupt your smile’s appearance, so make sure you do not wear Invisalign as you eat.
Continue Good Oral Hygiene
The ability to remove Invisalign will also mean that you can complete your oral hygiene regimen without disruption. You can brush your teeth and floss as needed without oral appliances getting in the way.
You will need to brush your teeth at least twice each day and floss every day to ensure your mouth stays as fresh and clean as it should be. But this is also important if you want to keep Invisalign looking and feeling its best.
Oral hygiene removes plaque and other build-ups that accrue on your smile throughout the day. Plaque can create stains on your teeth and transfer to your aligners to make them dirty.
Plus, if you develop cavities or other dental issues due to poor oral hygiene, it could affect the fit of your Invisalign. You should not wear Invisalign that does not fit properly, so this could delay your treatment. Adhere to a consistent oral hygiene regimen to care for your Invisalign.
Complete a Separate Cleaning Regimen for Aligners
Your Invisalign aligners will collect residues throughout the day like the rest of your smile. So you will need to clean your aligners in a separate process from your oral hygiene routine.
Once a day, you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a paste that does not contain abrasive ingredients to clean your Invisalign. You should use these milder hygienic products so that you do not scratch your aligners as you clean them.
Rinse the aligners well before you put them back in your mouth. However, you should not use hot water when doing so or you could melt and warp the aligners. If your Invisalign does suffer damage, contact your dentist.