Are you worried about how to best care for Invisalign® during the holiday season?
Invisalign® is a great way to put your teeth in proper position compared to the use of the traditional wire and metal braces. Invisalign® aligners are clear, easy to remove and put back in the mouth, and less noticeable. The holiday season is awash with activities which can leave you concerned about how to take good care of your aligners. The following five tips are essential to enable the success of Invisalign® trays in straightening your teeth within a short time:
1) Clean Your Teeth and Invisalign® Trays Every Morning
Remove and clean your Invisalign® trays every morning as you brush your teeth. Bacteria builds up when your mouth is shut. A morning cleaning also removes dry saliva which can cause a foul smell.
2) Rinse the Aligners Every Time you Remove Them
Use cold water to get rid of dry saliva on your aligners every time you remove them. Remove your aligners every time you are having a meal to protect against bacterial build-up due to small pieces of food getting in between your teeth and the Invisalign® tray. Further, the trays are not designed for chewing, thus, can suffer damage including getting stained.
3) Brush and Floss Your Teeth Before Wearing the Trays
Brush and floss your teeth before wearing back the Invisalign® trays. This helps reduce chances for plaque build-up due to food particles getting trapped between your teeth. Plaque build-up can cause cavities in the future.
4) Soak Your Trays Every Day
Always ensure to soak, and rinse your aligners before use by using a denture cleaner or Invisalign® cleaning crystals. You can enhance the daily care of your trays by:
- Never leave your aligners exposed to open air to avoid bacterial build-up which can cause bad smell or worse, expose you to sickness. Always carry with you a case for keeping the aligners when not in use to avoid contamination.
- Carry more than one set of Invisalign® aligners when traveling to avoid discontinuation of treatment if you forget or lose a pair. It is also vital that you keep your aligners in your bag that will always be within reach.
- Never use toothpaste to clean your Invisalign® trays since it can cause discoloration or reduce their luster.
5) Do not Clean or Soak Invisalign® Aligners in a Mouthwash Solution or Hot Water
Never soak your Invisalign® trays in hot water or mouthwash solution since they can suffer irreparable damage. Hot water and mouthwash solutions can negatively impact the tray’s special plastic. Use cold water for soaking and cleaning your aligners.
Having Invisalign® trays in no way means you will miss out on all the fun this holiday season. As you follow the above-mentioned tips, you’ll be able to remain carefree throughout all of the festivities, and be smiling all along the way! And as always, if questions or concerns arise, reach out to Rollins & Petersen Orthodontics at 480-924-2880.
