Your dentist has told you that you need braces. Instead of going with the option of uncomfortable wires, you decide to get Invisalign instead. You figure they will give you a bit more freedom.
While this option won’t force you to stop eating your favorite foods, they do come with their own unique set of care instructions. If you don’t abide by them you may stain, lose, or break the trays. It’s expensive to get new ones and you may have to wear them for longer if your teeth shift at all while you’re waiting on replacements.
To help you take care of your new braces, here are a few key Invisalign care instructions you’ll want to keep in mind.
1. Take Your Trays Out Every Morning and Evening to Clean Them
Chances are bacteria has festered all over your trays while you were sleeping. You don’t want to keep this in your mouth so you need to take them out every morning so you can clean them.
Rinse your trays under lukewarm water and then gently brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Make sure that you brush them inside and out and then rinse them under lukewarm water again.
After it’s good and clean you’re free to put them back in and go about your day. Make sure that you repeat this process in the evening before you go to bed as well.
2. Rinse Them Every Time You Take Them Out
If you take out your Invisalign when you go out for lunch with your friends that’s fine. You’ll want to head to the bathroom and rinse them off before you put them back in though.
Plague and bacteria tend to build upon them if you don’t. Many people carry around a travel toothbrush that they can use to gently brush the braces as well.
3. Soak Them
If when you take your Invisalign out in the evening or morning you notice milky calcium build up then brushing may not cut it. You should probably soak them denture cleaner or Invisalign cleaning crystals.
Once they’re done soaking you can take them out and brush with a toothbrush like you normally would. Rinse them off before you put them back in or put them in your case.
4. Always Brush and Floss Before You Put Them in
You should get into the habit of carrying around a travel toothbrush and tube of toothpaste. We told you when you take them out to eat you’ll need to rinse them out before you put them back in but you’ll also want to brush your teeth as well.
If you don’t then you’ll trap stray food particles and bacteria between the trays and your teeth. This can lead to tooth decay and several other dental issues on down the road.
5. Don’t Leave Them in the Open Air
So you go out with your friends to eat and you place your trays to the side in a napkin. When you’re leaving, you toss them in the garbage with your trash on accident.
On top of raising the risk of you throwing away the trays, leaving them out in the open air like that allows bacteria to gather on them. To this end, you need to keep them in a case at all times when you’re not wearing them.
6. Pack Extras When You Travel
Even if you only go without your trays for a short amount of time, it could mess up your treatment. That’s why if you’re planning a trip you should talk to your orthodontist first. They can make sure you’re able to get your next set before you leave.
If they do, then you should still bring your old set. This will cover you in the event that you lose your new pair during your vacation.
We hope this doesn’t happen to you but there is a chance that your baggage could get lost. If a pair of your Invisalign is in it then they are gone now. That’s why it’s best to keep them on the plane with you in your carry-on.
7. Don’t Eat or Drink with Them in
This is probably the first tip that your orthodontist is going to give you. You can drink water while you’re wearing them but anything else is a bad idea. For one, they aren’t made to withstand chewing.
Even if what you eat isn’t that hard, it can still damage them. Eating with them in makes it easier for food to get stuck between them and your teeth which again, will cause problems. Certain foods and beverages can also stain them.
8. Don’t Use Abrasive Toothpaste on Them
You can use toothpaste on your Invisalign as long as it’s non-abrasive. You can’t use any old toothpaste on them because the chemicals can harm them. These chemicals can discolor them and create a thin sheen over them.
This will make them more noticeable in your mouth which sort of defeats the purpose of having them.
Your Home Invisalign Care Instructions
Your dentist has told you that you need braces. You get Invisalign because you like that they aren’t as uncomfortable or noticeable as metal ones.
Even so, you’ll still need to be careful with them or they won’t work effectively. If you use these Invisalign care instructions, you’ll be able to keep them fresh and clean.
Did these instructions help make your time wearing Invisalign a success? Check out the general health section of our blog for more great tips like these.
