Invisalign aligner trays must be regularly cleaned and this is one of the most important things that you must understand about this cutting edge teeth-straightening treatment. Each of these aligner trays in a series remains in use hardly for about a couple of weeks. After that you switch to the new set of aligners in the series and that is how your treatment keeps progressing. Yet, it is crucial to clean the appliances every day. If you do not clean it properly every day, you are likely to develop a bad smell.
Difference between cleaning and rinsing aligners
When invsilaign is concerned, there is a distinct difference between the two words – rinsing and cleaning. Rinsing makes your aligner trays appear a little cleaner although this effort has nothing to do with getting rid of the bacteria build-ups that remain hidden to the eyes, explain dentists who offer some of the best invisalign deals in London from time to time. According to the official Invisalign website this is what you have to do to give your aligners a basic nightly cleaning –
- First, rinse the aligner trays with water every night
- Use a soft bristled toothbrush to brush the aligners with (but do not use the one which you use to brush the teeth, in other words use another toothbrush) and any gentle clear liquid soap
- A gentle liquid soap and a soft bristled toothbrush is the best combination to clear away any debris or food particle that may have accumulated on your appliance throughout the day
- Thoroughly rinse the appliance after brushing
It is also important to note that whenever the aligner trays are not in use, make sure to put those in the protective case that came with your kit, explain a dentist who offers affordable and cheap Invisalign.
Cleaning accessories for your Invisalign aligners
- Invisalign sells a product named Steralinger that comes with a tray. The tray contains a combination of sodium bicarbonate, rubbing alcohol and a natural antiseptic. To clean the aligners you have to place them in this tray and let them soak for three minutes. Rinse off the sterilising solution and then simply brush the aligners with gentle hands using warm water.
- Invisalign sells another product as well, named cleaning crystals. Dissolve a few of these crystals in water to form a solution and soak the aligners in it. These crystals are made from various cleaning agents like sodium sulphate. If your priority is a more easily accessible as well as more reasonably priced option, then this is it you should go for, suggest dentists who offer some of the cheapest Invisalign deals in London. These crystals are made with the same ingredients as the products used in cleaning retainers although denture cleaners are completely different from this variety.
Invisalign cleaning accessories are readily available online
Invisalign makes sure that its cleaning accessories are easily available online to facilitate greater patient convenience. The list of the products includes the following –
- Invisalign Steralinger with sterilising tray
- Invisalign cleaning crystals and
- Invisalign cleaning system
What studies on best cleaning practices reveal
The cleaning method that is described above is sufficient to maintain cleanliness of the aligners at night. But this is not a very thorough cleaning approach. Actually there are three ways of keeping your aligner trays properly clean – rinsing with water, combination of brushing and using effervescent tablets and only brushing using a toothbrush and toothpaste. Out of these three options the one that combines brushing with effervescent tablets proves the most effective explain dentists who launch some of the best Invisalign deals from time to time.
How often the aligners need cleaning
It is better to clean your aligner trays every night, the same time when you brush and floss the teeth. As such this is the best strategy to clear away any built up food debris and bacteria that accumulate on the appliance throughout the day. It is also essential to clean the clear aligner trays whenever they appear visibly dirty. Suppose you wear the aligners back in haste right after a treat or a meal without cleaning the mouth well. You may also accidentally drink something that was not clear enough. In those cases a little cleaning could be required to save it from looking visibly dirty.
Other that providing extensive and thorough cleaning to your clear plastic aligners it is also important to give those a thorough rinse every time you take those out of your mouth. Experienced dental professionals who offer some of the cheapest Invisalign deals in London opine although you switch to a new set of aligner trays every couple of weeks, yet it is important to clean them carefully and frequently every day.
If you fail cleaning your aligner trays they may appear discoloured and that will make your teeth appear yellowish. It may also give you a bad breath. More importantly, with a not so clean set of appliances, you continually expose your teeth and the overall mouth to build up bacteria.
Cleaners you should avoid for your Invisalign aligner trays
Some cleaners are better to avoid while cleaning Invisalign aligners. These cleaners are either excessively harsh or damaging for the clear plastic trays. The list includes mouthwashes (especially those containing alcohol), denture cleaners, toothpaste, scented soaps (these leave a bitter taste in the mouth).
Along with the items mentioned above it is also better to avoid using cleansing soaps which contain added dyes to clean you Invisalign trays with, explain dentists working at the renowned Thousand Smiles Dental Clinic in London. Even using a coarse bristle brush (not the soft bristled ones) can also prove too harsh for your clear plastic aligners.
Also read: What to Do With a Broken Crown?
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