How to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners

Invisalign aligners are removable, making it easy to clean your teeth during treatment. But you have to keep the aligners clean, too! Here’s how.

Cleaning

1. Rinse your aligners when you remove them. Otherwise, dry saliva and plaque will build up over time, creating the ideal breeding ground for foul smelling bacteria.
2. Brush and floss before putting you aligners back in your mouth. This will remove food particles that would otherwise be trapped in the tight space between your teeth and aligners.
3. Clean your aligners with a clear, mild anti-bacterial soap and a soft toothbrush on a regular basis. This is a great way to get rid of unwanted bacteria and keep your aligners fresh and clean. Avoid using coloured soap to clean your aligners, as this may cause discolouration. Rinse thoroughly before putting the aligners back in your mouth.

Damage Prevention

1. Only consume water while you're actually wearing your aligners. Food and drinks can stain them and cause them to smell bad over time.
2. Toothpaste is abrasive, so try not to use it to clean your aligners unless necessary. It may cause your aligners to become dull, and create small scratches that trap bacteria.
3. Don’t leave your aligners lying around when you’re not wearing them. Always clean them, and then put them right back in their case. Leaving your aligners out in the open exposes them to bacteria, and increases the likelihood that they’ll be damaged or lost.