Tips for Taking Care of Your Invisalign Trays

There's little doubt that Invisalign® clear aligners revolutionized orthodontic care. Now, instead of unsightly metal bands cemented to your teeth, you can transition from a crooked collection of teeth to an even, aligned smile using virtually invisible and removable dental trays. Simply take your Invisalign trays out to eat and clean your teeth, then pop them back in.

The secret is in the progression of trays. Wearing each aligner for about two weeks, you're accomplishing the same movement of teeth formerly done using bands and wires. Instead of constant tightening and refastening necessary for conventional braces, you simply move to the next Invisalign aligner in the sequence, discarding your old trays. At the end of the tray sequence, your teeth are where you want them.

Though you'll only wear each set of aligners for a short time, there are still things you can do to assure the best results and most satisfying treatment. The Invisalign experts at The Dental Touch recommend the following care tips for the very best alignment experience.

Don't change

Keep eating the nutritious foods you love, the way you're used to eating them. There's no need to segment apples or cut kernels off a fresh cob of corn. Simply pop out your Invisalign trays and enjoy food as you always have.

The same follows for oral care. Your brushing and flossing techniques stay the same, though it's critical that you clean your teeth every time you eat, to avoid trapping food inside your Invisalign trays. These can lead to premature decay and gum disease.

Clean your trays, too

Your Invisalign trays also need some love, even though they're not in your mouth when you eat. Be sure to clean them as recommended, at least twice a day. Use only Invisalign cleaning solutions, retainer cleaner, or other products approved by The Dental Touch.

Regular toothpaste or other types of cleaner may stain or damage the Invisalign material. Consider using Invisalign's soaking solution several times a week for best results.

Just in case

Yes, it sometimes doesn't take very long to eat and clean your teeth, but leaving your aligners in the open and unprotected could lead to unneeded complications. Always slip your aligners into their protective case. This helps prevent contamination from environmental sources, as well as protecting the trays against accidental damage.

Drinking is eating

Unless it's plain water, take out your trays when drinking. While a cup of coffee may not damage your trays like eating an apple, coffee is a notorious staining agent. The special SmartTrack® material engineered for Invisalign is strong enough to move your teeth, but it's prone to staining.

Stains can mean odor, too, so even though you only wear a set of trays for a few weeks, you can lose the virtual invisibility of your aligners, as well as introducing odd tastes into your mouth. Whether food or drink, take out your trays.

Plan ahead

There's no reason why orthodontic care should interfere with vacations. Of course, you'll bring your current aligners and their protective case, but make sure you anticipate changes to the next aligners in the progression. You may need to talk to your caregiver at The Dental Touch about having the next set on hand.

To learn more about Invisalign and whether it's the right choice for you, contact The Dental Touch. You can book an appointment online or call the office directly.