So you’ve just started your Invisalign treatment, are wearing aligners, and are on your way to a great-looking smile. But now what? Well, your orthodontist has no doubt already instructed you to ensure thorough cleaning of your aligners regularly.

However, if you’ve never had aligners before, it can be difficult to know what steps to follow to keep them clean and, most importantly, what you’ll want to avoid. Invisalign is a significant investment, and you’ll want to make sure your aligners aren’t accidentally damaged and keep their transparent design.

We’ve designed this helpful guide to give you all of the information you need to keep your aligner trays clean and in great condition so they can continue to be an effective treatment option.

The Importance of Teeth Aligner Cleaning

Let’s start by being honest: not everyone follows all of the advice of their dentist or oral care specialist. Many people forget to floss after every meal or don’t brush their teeth for at least two minutes during every session.

Life happens, and maintaining a perfect teeth cleaning schedule isn’t always easy for everyone. However, when you begin an orthodontic treatment plan and start using Invisalign appliances, it’s critical that you follow important steps to keep them clean.

Some of the primary reasons why you want to make sure your aligners stay clean include:

• Avoiding Bacteria Build-up – Regardless of how often you brush your teeth, our mouths are constantly filled with various types of bacteria (some good, some not so good). While our immune systems naturally rid our bodies of harmful bacteria, when aligners are removed from your mouth and left unclean, bacteria have a chance to accumulate before returning to your teeth. This can then lead to a higher likelihood of gum diseases or cavities.

• Keeping Them Stain-free – One of the great benefits of using Invisalign appliances is their transparent design, which allows you to have a more natural smile as you continue your orthodontic treatment plan. However, if you fail to keep your aligners regularly cleaned, they’ll start to become stained, no different than how your teeth can be when not brushing regularly.

• Preventing Foul Odors – The combination of bacteria, food particles, and humidity in your mouth can be a source of foul odors. This is why it’s important to brush and floss as well as keeping your aligners cleaned.

How Often Should You Do Aligner Cleaning?

When considering how often you should do Invisalign cleaning, a good rule of thumb is to follow the same schedule you would when brushing or flossing. This is ideally twice a day but doesn’t have to be limited to this amount.

To keep things simple for you, think about your aligner cleaning no different than your own oral care. You’ll want to regularly remove plaque, accumulated bacteria, or food debris from them in order to keep them transparent and avoid damaging them.

Steps to Take When Cleaning Teeth Aligners

When you first start using aligners, it can be a little bit overwhelming when learning about how to use them and what you need to do to keep them clean. However, maintaining good aligner hygiene is pretty straightforward so long as you follow the right steps.

Below is an easy-to-follow guide when cleaning your aligners and Invisalign trays:

1. Rinse Your Aligners Thoroughly

Once you remove your aligners, take the time to make sure you rinse them thoroughly using warm water. This will help to remove any food particles and saliva before you start to clean clear aligners.

Be sure to rinse both sides of your aligners and be sure to handle them with care to avoid damaging them or distorting their shape. As you’re rinsing them, you can gently rub the surface of the aligners to make sure they’re cleared of any remaining debris and ready for cleaning.

2. Use Gentle Brushing Techniques

To clean your aligners properly, it’s recommend to use a soft bristle brush with warm water. While there are different cleaning products on the market designed to help clean orthodontic appliances, soft bristle brushes are the preferred method for cleaning.

Begin the cleaning process by wetting the brush in warm water and gently brushing the aligners on both sides. Once you’ve finished cleaning the aligners using gentle brushing strokes, rinse them again to remove any additional debris you may have loosened during the process.

3. Briefly Soak Your Aligners

After you’ve brushed your aligners and rinsed them clean, set aside a mild cleaning solution or diluted baking soda that you can soak them in. This will help to clear any remaining bacteria and remove any lingering wine or coffee stains.

Fill a clean container with lukewarm water that can fit the appliance and add a mild cleaning solution to it. You can use an unscented antibacterial soap or place a denture cleaner tablet into the water. Make sure the soap, baking soda solution, or denture cleaners are mixed well with the water, and then place your aligners so that they’re fully submerged in the container.

Leave your aligners to soak in the solution for anywhere between 3-5 minutes. Avoid soaking them longer for this period since it could start to soften the plastic mold and cause alignment issues when putting them back over your teeth. Rinse them again with lukewarm water after soaking in the solution.

What to Avoid When Cleaning

While the aligner cleaning process is relatively straightforward and can easily be included as part of your oral hygiene schedule, there are some important things you’ll want to avoid:

• Cleaning Too Hard – While aligners are custom-fitted and designed to be used regularly, their form can be damaged when handled too roughly. When cleaning them, only use a non abrasive toothpaste and soft bristled toothbrush. You’ll also want to avoid brushing them too hard, as this can damage them.

• Using Hot Water – Hot water can damage the integrity of your aligners. Only use lukewarm water when rinsing and soaking your aligners so they keep their proper shape while allowing you to clean them efficiently.

• Cleaning With Harsh Chemicals – If you’re using household cleaning products when keeping your aligners clean, be sure to avoid harsh solutions that contain chemicals. Instead, use a more mild cleaning solution or orthodontist-approved denture cleaners.

• Allowing to Soak Overnight – You don’t want to soak your aligners overnight as this will soften them too much. This will make it challenging to keep the custom fit they were designed for and negatively impact your long-term aligner treatment.

Best Practices for Ensuring Good Oral Hygiene When Using Aligners

Aligners are designed to be used all day. That being said, certain best practices can help ensure good oral hygiene while keeping your aligners in good condition.

• Stick to Water – When you’re wearing your Invisalign trays, try to only drink water if you can. While drinking coffee is normal routine for most people throughout the day, the acidity in coffee can start to degrade the integrity of aligners and cause stains. Consuming sugary drinks or wine can also stain the aligners and make them harder to clean.

• Regularly Clean Your Aligners – Maintaining a strict cleaning routine for your aligners is important to ensure you can get the most value out of them during aligner treatment. Be sure to follow the suggested cleaning schedule provided by your orthodontist and follow best practices when handling and cleaning your aligners.

• Remove Aligners Before Eating – Before every meal, remove your aligners and place them in a protective case. Even though you might be tempted to keep the aligners in place when eating softer foods, chewing with them in place can potentially damage them.

• Brush More Often – To make it easier to keep your aligners clean, be sure to brush and floss more often. The cleaner your teeth and gums are, the less bacteria that will transfer to the aligners.

• Visit Your Dentist Regularly – Regular teeth cleanings by your dentist will help to avoid high risks of gum disease or tooth decay. Since your aligners can trap bacteria between your appliance and the surface of your teeth and gums, regular dental cleanings help to check for and address this buildup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding aligner cleaning