Tips for Taking Care of Your Invisalign® Trays

Invisalign® clear aligners revolutionized the teeth straightening world with virtually invisible clear aligner trays that are removable and just as effective as traditional braces for many teeth alignment problems. 

It’s not just a matter of appearance, though. Invisalign aligners also transform the effect that teeth straightening has on your life.

The Invisalign advantage

Unlike conventional orthodontic systems, Invisalign doesn’t forces you to change what and how you eat. Simply snap your aligners out and enjoy the food and drink that you always have. And that’s only one of the advantages.

Since aligners are designed and used in a sequence, you simply progress to the next set of aligners in the sequence. Unlike braces, you don’t have to schedule an orthodontist appointment to have tightening adjustments. With Invisalign, you have fewer dental visits through the course of your teeth straightening treatments.

Since you have less dental oversight as your teeth get straighter, you carry a greater responsibility to care for your Invisalign aligners and, simultaneously, your teeth. Here are some tips that we at GEMS Dental recommend to care for your aligners and to ensure you have a successful Invisalign experience.

Cleaning your aligners

Typically, you wear a single set of aligners for up to two weeks before moving to the next progression, so you’re not looking at long-term care for these appliances. You do, however, need to take some care to prevent staining. Coffee, tea, wine, and soda can all contribute to dull looking teeth, but your natural enamel is more stain-resistant than the Invisalign material.

Lightly brushing your aligners twice a day keeps them clean and invisible. Invisalign supplies cleaning solutions designed for use with your appliances, and other retainer cleaners may also be suitable. Check with us before using a new cleaning product on your aligners. 

Regular toothpastes are not suitable for use on Invisalign trays.  

Food and Invisalign

The Invisalign system works best when your aligners are in place 20-22 hours per day. The system is based on removing your current aligners whenever you eat. While the material used to make your aligners is tough, it’s not made to endure the forces of biting and chewing. Remove your aligners whenever you’re eating or drinking anything other than water.

Brush your teeth after every meal

Keeping your teeth clean is particularly important when you’re wearing your aligners virtually all day. Trapped food can contribute to gum disease as well as affect the fit of your aligners.

Brushing should be the last thing you do each time before you put your aligners in. When you remove your aligners, always place them in their travel case. This protects them against loss and damage, as well as keeps them clean and protected from contact with foreign substances.

Even with the extra steps needed to accommodate Invisalign aligners into your lifestyle, the system is still a more natural way to handle most teeth alignment issues. 

Dr. George Saliba and his team at GEMS Dental are experts with the Invisalign system. Request an appointment through our online system or call the office to book directly and find out more about how this innovative system may be suitable for you.