If you want to get the straight, beautiful smile of your dreams, ask your dentist about Invisalign. The dentist can provide you with sets of custom-made aligners that fit over your teeth and gradually push them into your desired straight position.
A straighter smile can boost your self-esteem and improve your oral health. And many people appreciate Invisalign’s subtle appearance over the teeth thanks to the translucent plastic structure compared to harsh metal braces.
But in order to maintain the pristine finish of Invisalign, you will need to take action to clean and care for your aligners. Find tips for keeping your Invisalign aligners looking and functioning their best by reading on.
Remove Invisalign When Eating and Drinking
Many dental patients enjoy the fact that Invisalign treatment features removable aligners. Fixed braces require dietary restrictions to avoid hurting wires and brackets. But you can eat whatever you like with Invisalign because dentists ask their patients to take out Invisalign when eating or drinking.
Not only does this grant patients more freedom and flexibility with their diet. But it also helps you keep your Invisalign clean. Food particles can easily become trapped within Invisalign, and it can make a mess that lingers in your smile.
Plus, dark-colored foods and beverages will transfer staining agents to Invisalign. Then your translucent aligners can turn yellow or dark. This discoloration will not go away. So take out Invisalign during meals to preserve their appearance.
Adhere to Good Oral Hygiene Practices
If you want to keep Invisalign clean, you should make an effort to clean the rest of your smile. Natural oral bacteria produce plaque that will develop on your teeth and create bad breath and other unpleasant symptoms.
If you do not remove plaque, you could also suffer dental problems. Cavities and gum disease can affect your oral health and alter your smile, which will interfere with your teeth-straightening treatment.
So make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily to maximize oral cleanliness. With removable aligners, you can easily practice your usual oral hygiene routine without disruption of fixed oral appliances. Visit your dentist for routine teeth cleanings as well to keep your smile clean and healthy.
Complete Separate Cleaning for Invisalign
Plaque will also accrue on your Invisalign as you wear it throughout the day. While these plastic aligners will not suffer decay, excess build-up can make Invisalign discolored and less structurally sound. To get rid of this plaque, you must also practice a separate cleaning regimen for your Invisalign.
At least once a day, brush your Invisalign with a specialized cleanser and a soft-bristled brush. These tools ensure that you do not accidentally scratch your aligners while you clean them.
Rinse your aligners before replacing them over your teeth, but avoid hot water when you do so. The high temperature could warp the plastic to make Invisalign no longer fit properly. If you do notice damage to your Invisalign, tell your dentist as soon as possible.