Bad breath happens. Sometimes it’s unavoidable – like after you’ve just eaten your weight in pesto pasta and your breath announces it. Other times, bad breath is avoidable. We’re talking to YOU, Invisalign® clear aligner wearers!
Anyone who wears clear aligners has undoubtedly raised the question of how to clean Invisalign® retainers and how often to clean Invisalign® aligners.
Here’s the 411 on how to keep bad breath at bay with Invisalign® clear aligners.
How often should you clean your clear aligners?
You’re wearing your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. This presents a lot of time for bacteria to flourish. Each night, rinse your Invisalign® aligners with water and brush them carefully with a toothbrush (and either a little toothpaste or dish soap) to preserve freshness and cleanliness. Unless you want to walk around with noticeable brush streaks on your aligners, be sure to brush gently!
Soak your clear aligners often, as recommended by your orthodontist, with clear retainer cleaner, denture cleaner or with the Invisalign® cleaning system, which uses cleaning crystals to ward off plaque buildup. Use cold or lukewarm water, instead of hot water, to soak your aligners. Do not boil them or put them in the dishwasher as hot water can distort the plastic.
Remain cautious of which chemicals you use on your aligners, as they’re comprised of a sensitive material, and you don’t want to risk damaging them. With that said, speak to your orthodontist before mixing up homemade cleaning solutions you found on Google.
How do I keep my teeth clean with clear aligners?
Each time you place your clear aligners back in your mouth, try to brush and floss your teeth beforehand. (If you don’t have a toothbrush handy, try to at least rinse your mouth out with water). After all, the convenience of removability is a HUGE advantage to choosing clear aligners!
As clear aligners are snug and custom-fitted to the unique curve of your teeth, failing to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day will promote plaque buildup followed by potential cavities as your teeth, and associating bacteria, is confined in your aligner. The trays are like little bathtubs for you teeth and you don’t want your teeth sitting in anything that will damage your teeth. And don’t forget to brush your tongue – that is where a lot of the bacteria that causes bad breath reside!
Maintaining healthy oral hygiene doesn’t have to be difficult with your Invisalign® clear aligners, as long as you employ the instructions Dr. Caudill and Dr. McNeight have given you.
If you have unanswered questions about how to clean your Invisalign® clear aligners, questions about clear braces’ costs, or simply want to hear more about how affordable orthodontics at Caudill can help you, request your free consultation today.
