You’ve taken the exciting plunge and decided to invest in Invisalign. Good choice! You’ve made a fantastic move toward increased oral health and greater confidence and you’re going to love the transformation in your smile. However, while you’re dodging the sometimes daunting maintenance of traditional braces, you still have to ensure you’re caring for Invisalign trays the proper way. Here are our Joosse Family Orthodontics top tips for Invisalign care.

Eating

Always remove your aligners while eating. Not only is it very difficult to chew food while you’re wearing your Invisalign, but you risk the chance of cracking your trays with hard foods, or even getting food particles and bacteria stuck in them. The same rule applies in regard to drinking. It’s perfectly okay to drink water, but anything else will require you to take out your aligners. You don’t want to stain them with dark liquids, or damage them with sugary sodas. When you are done eating and drinking, always brush your teeth before putting your Invisalign back in. Additionally, flossing becomes even more important, as you could potentially trap food particles in your teeth, and in your trays. This can lead to serious dental problems. Good thing you’re already a pro at flossing!

Use Your Case

When you’re not wearing your Invisalign, such as when you’re eating or drinking, make sure you put your aligners in their case. Always using your case will ensure you don’t lose your aligners, accidentally throw them away, or allow them to become damaged or dirty.

Don’t Forget Your Aligners

Don’t forget to wear your aligners! Failure to wear your aligners, even for a few hours, can result in your teeth moving and making your trays fit incorrectly. Make sure you wear them for their recommended allotted time each day, and that you change them when instructed. New trays can be put in at the time of day you prefer, but before bed is a popular time to change them. This allows your teeth to become comfortable with the new trays, as they are tightest for the first few hours. Additionally, if you are planning to travel, make sure you bring your current aligners as well as your next sets, depending on the length of your trip.

Cleaning Your Aligners

This is key! Make sure you take good care of cleaning your Invisalign, or you could be faced with staining, odor, and overall bad dental health. Follow these tips:

Clean your trays each morning with either the solution provided by Invisalign, or antibacterial soap. Also, remember to brush your teeth!
Rinse your trays each time you remove them before putting them back in. This will help remove any potential bacteria or buildup.
Soak your aligners to clean them with the solution Dr. Joosse approves. You can also use a designated toothbrush to more thoroughly clean the trays. Make sure you rinse them when you’re done.
If using a toothbrush to clean your trays, ensure you’re not pressing too hard. They can crack under pressure.
Don’t use cleaning solutions on your trays that are not meant for Invisalign. This includes mouthwash, as non-approved solutions can stain your aligner trays.

Invisalign is an investment that certainly pays off. While it offers convenience and freedom over traditional braces, you still have to care for the aligners correctly and follow these guidelines in order to get the best results.