How to Clean Invisalign Trays

Many people seek the help of Invisalign to enjoy a straight smile. But what patients tend to forget is that Invisalign trays need to be cleaned constantly to maintain their effectiveness. To help her patients, Dr. Meredith Mosier, along with the team of dedicated people at Lady Bird Dental, came up with a list of tips to follow for maintaining impeccable Invisalign trays.

Why It's Important to Clean Your Invisalign Trays

Before we dive into maintenance tips, it is essential to understand why it is important to have clean Invisalign trays. The main reason why people prefer Invisalign over braces is their transparency and the discretion they offer. 

But if they are not cleaned properly, this benefit disappears, because stains can form on the trays, and their transparency can be replaced by a yellowish color.

Also, if you do not want to have a bad breath, it is mandatory to clean the Invisalign trays constantly. Otherwise, food particles can accumulate in them, stimulating the development of bacteria and bad breath.

A proper cleansing regime does not only protect you from bad breath. It protects you from tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. That's because with low bacteria levels comes a low risk of dental complications.

Step by Step Instructions

Unfortunately, some people confuse rinsing with washing. Rinsing the Invisalign trays may make them look a little cleaner, but the bacteria are still there. To get rid of them completely, washing the Invisalign trays is necessary.

Follow Dr. Meredith Mosier’s tips:

• Rinse the trays every night with water
• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush (not the same one you use to brush your teeth) to clean the trays. Also, use a clear liquid soap to remove all food debris and bacteria that have accumulated during the day
• Rinse the trays with water after you have finished cleaning
• Store the Invisalign trays in a protective case every time you don't use them

Tools/Cleaners to Use

The Invisalign trays come with several cleaning products and utensils, such as:

• A cleaning product called "Steraligner", which contains rubbing alcohol and sodium bicarbonate. The Invisalign trays are left to soak in this substance for 3 minutes, then rinsed with water and brushed with warm water
• Another cleaning product is called “cleaning crystals”, which dissolve in water, and the Invisalign trays are placed in this water and left to soak

Gain Control Over Your Smile

If you want to have straight teeth, but do not want to deal with braces, Invisalign is the perfect choice for you.

At Lady Bird Dental, Dr. Meredith Mosier is waiting to discuss with you the advantages of Invisalign and to offer you the best advice, depending on your needs.

The perfect smile is just a call away.