There’s lots to love about Invisalign®, the innovative orthodontic treatment that has a markedly less disruptive and uncomfortable effect on your life as compared with traditional metal braces. Still, in order for treatment to be completely successful, you need to learn the ropes about properly caring for your aligners, otherwise known as trays.
Dr. Wayne Hickory and the team at Embassy Row Orthodontics have used the Invisalign system to transform countless smiles, and once you understand how to care for your trays in between office visits, the better the results of your treatment will be!
First and foremost, Invisalign aligners are nearly imperceptible, worlds easier than metal braces in terms of care and maintenance, and treatment brings you faster results than standard braces. With Invisalign, you can:
What’s more, Invisalign is a successful treatment no matter your age, so you’re not shut out from using them if you’re a teen or over a certain age, for example.
Since you get a series of trays over the course of your treatment, you need first of all to take consistently good care of your trays. We’ve devised a list of pointers to keep your trays in tip-top shape.
Every time you remove your Invisalign trays to eat or brush your teeth, place them in their case, without fail. The risk for damage is real if they’re just sitting out loose on the table or countertop, and we’ve even had patients who inadvertently threw theirs away. Store them safely, and you’ll have no worries.
It’s very important to keep your aligners clean, not only because they’re in your mouth for 20-22 hours each day and you don’t want bacteria from your food lingering on them, but if they’re ignored for too long, they can start to have an odor and lose their transparency as dirt builds up.
You should clean your Invisalign trays thoroughly each night and never with anything abrasive.
We recommend the Invisalign Cleaning System that’s specifically designed for use with Invisalign trays. You can order the cleaning system directly through https://www.invisalignaccessories.com/. The system includes cleaning crystals that you soak your trays in.
Just like your own teeth, aligners develop an unhygienic coating of plaque and food debris. You want that removed from your aligners each day.
Alternatively, you can brush them carefully and rinse them with lukewarm water afterward.
The important thing is to clean them daily.
Keeping consistent with your oral hygiene practices is essential when you’re an Invisalign patient, because if you don’t remove plaque and food that’s lodged in your teeth between wearings of your aligners, you increase your risk for major decay problems.
Even though it may be tempting if you’re starving and in a hurry, never eat or drink while your trays are in. Food could damage them and beverages can stain them, so stick to water exclusively when your trays are in place.
Book a free consultation at our beautiful, historic office in Bethesda, Maryland to learn more about Invisalign.
