Wearing Invisalign aligners and staying on track with your treatment timeline means knowing how to properly maintain your trays. Bacteria and food particles can easily spread and cause problems for your teeth and gums, but if you understand the process for caring for Invisalign in Herndon, you’ll be on the fast track to a healthier, more perfectly aligned smile in no time at all. Here are 4 tips to remember when it comes to keeping your trays clean and in optimal shape.
Soak Your Aligners
Although you should wear your Invisalign aligners 20-22 hours a day, you must make sure you let them soak for a short time. It’s natural for bacteria and other particles to accumulate on your trays throughout the day. Using Invisalign cleaning crystals to soak your aligners once a day, you can make sure they are free of any germs that might harm your smile. Just remember to rinse them thoroughly after you remove them from the solution and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to rid your trays of plaque.
Never Leave Your Aligners In While Eating or Drinking
Unless you are consuming water, you should always remember to take out your trays when preparing to eat or drink. They are durable but not indestructible, and they cannot withstand the normal pressure placed on them while chewing and eating. Yes, you can eat all your favorite foods; however, it’s important that you are mindful of consuming anything that could potentially stain your teeth and transfer onto your aligners, as it can dull your trays and cause them to be more visible.
Commit to Proper Oral Hygiene
Just because you are wearing Invisalign doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep up with your oral hygiene routine. Regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing are vital to the success of your treatment and will minimize your risk for other potentially problematic oral health issues. When waking, make sure to remove your trays, brush them, and rinse them thoroughly. You’ll then care for your teeth as normal, making sure to devote two full minutes to brushing. If you prefer to floss at nighttime, make sure to do so correctly. You will need to perform the same routine at night before you go to bed, making sure your aligners are clean and free of bacteria and plaque.
Use Your Protective Case
When receiving your Invisalign aligners, you will also need to purchase a protective case. You will need to carry this with you wherever you go. Whether it is going out to eat with friends or preparing for a big event and you need to remove your trays to feel more confident speaking, placing them in your protective case is crucial. Not only can it prevent particles in the air from landing on your trays, but it can also minimize the potential for damage. Folding up your aligners in a napkin will only heighten the risk of accidentally throwing them away. With the help of a case, you can safeguard your aligners and avoid a potential delay in treatment.
Cleaning Invisalign in Herndon doesn’t have to be hard. Your dentist will go over all the necessary details, just be sure that you fully understand how to clean and safeguard your trays to ensure a healthy, beautiful smile in the end.
About the Author
As a dentist in Herndon, Dr. Farshad Bakhtyari believes in providing patients with multiple options to improve the health and aesthetics of their smiles. If you are looking to improve the health and alignment of your smile, you cannot go wrong by choosing Invisalign. These clear aligners make it possible to add space to crowded teeth, eliminate gaps, and realign bites of all types. However, wearing them is only one part of the process. Knowing how to clean them is the other, which is why you can trust Dr. Bakhtyari to provide you with the information needed to ensure successful results. If you are interested in straightening your smile with Invisalign, contact us at (703) 860-8860.