Caring for your Invisalign Aligners

We do things a little differently here at Millwater Dental by monitoring your aligner wear virtually using an app on your phone. This is so we can ensure your progress goes smoothly and also give any feedback on cleaning and maintenance.

When the aligners are not being worn, it is important to store them in your aligner case so they don't get lost or damaged.

The biggest reasons for losing your aligner that we hear are;

"I wrapped it in a serviette and it got thrown away"

or

"the dog ate it".

It sounds clichéd but animals for some reason love the Invisalign aligners too!

What's the best way to keep your Invisalign aligners clean?

Don’t get them dirty in the first place! It is easy to keep your aligners fresh and unstained, especially if you only drink water while they’re working on your smile.

Drinking other beverages, or eating food, is an easy way to mess-up and stain your Invisalign. Brushing your teeth after drinking coffee, tea, coloured soft drinks, and other dark beverages is important for preventing stains! Any plaque or food particles that are stuck inside the aligner or in your teeth can potentially lead to tooth decay and gum disease as well as smelly aligners, so keep it as clean as possible and caring for an Invisalign aligner is easy and only takes a few minutes.

To keep your aligners and retainers clean, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and lukewarm water (never hot). Brush your aligners inside and outside, and they should look clear after cleaning.

Avoid using too much toothpaste on your aligners as the abrasiveness of toothpaste may cause minute scratching of the aligner, making them look cloudy and increasing areas where plaque, tartar and stains build-up. Also avoid soaking your Invisalign aligner in mouthwash as colours from the mouthwash may be absorbed by the aligner.

You can use denture cleaners with your Invisalign, but you don’t want to use a harsh chemicals or coloured liquids. So you soaking your Invisalign in a hydrogen peroxide solution or weak vinegar solution can also help.

We have found the Eversmile Aligner & Retainer Cleaner works really well and is available from our clinic.

Just add the cleaning foam straight into you aligners and pop them back in! This helps to removes build-up on your trays as well as plaque on your teeth. It also helps to prevent yellowing so your aligners and attachments remain less undetectable. You can use it during treatment with your aligners and after your treatment with your clear retainers. The minty foam kills 99% of bacteria on your aligners, leaving you with fresher breath as well as whitening teeth.