29% of people in the United States say that teeth are the first facial feature that they notice when meeting someone new. Teeth play an important role in self-image, which is why many people use teeth straightening treatments like Invisalign to improve the appearance of their smiles. However, learning how to care for your Invisalign aligners is necessary if you want to get the best results from your treatment. Do you want to learn more about common Invisalign care mistakes and how they can hinder your progress?
Keep reading this guide for everything you need to know about improving your Invisalign maintenance routine!
Eating and Drinking With Your Aligners
One of the worst things you can do for your Invisalign trays is eat and drink without removing them. While you are supposed to wear your Invisalign aligners for most of the day, you still need to know the right times to take them out.
Unless you are drinking water, you need to remove your trays whenever you eat or drink. If you eat while you wear your Invisalign trays, it will cause your aligners to wear out more quickly. The plastic trays will start getting worn down by your teeth.
Food and drinks can get stuck on your aligners and may even cause them to become discolored. This will make your trays stand out and look dirty when you are wearing them. Plus, food can get stuck between your aligners and your teeth.
This can lead to oral health problems and damage to your gums and enamel.
Because of this, it is best to always remove your aligners when you eat or drink, even if it is just a small snack.
You can also find food for Invisalign treatment that will improve your progress. Eating the right vitamins and minerals can protect your teeth and improve your oral health.
Failing to Rinse Your Aligners
It is also essential that you clean your Invisalign trays as soon as you take them out. Whenever you remove your trays to eat and drink, it provides an opportunity for bacteria and saliva to accumulate on your aligners.
Because of this, you need to rinse them off as soon as you take them out of your mouth. Then, put them back into their container until you have finished eating and drinking.
This will help you keep your aligners clean!
Still, you need to remember that rinsing your aligners when you remove them to eat is not the same as cleaning your Invisalign trays. You should still clean your aligners each night before you go to sleep.
Using the Wrong Tools
When you are caring for your Invisalign trays, there are specific aligner cleaning tools that you should use. Not using the right tools will make it difficult to clean the small areas of your aligners and may make it easy for food, bacteria, and other debris to get stuck in the trays.
There are many Invisalign cleaning kits that you can get from your dentist or even online that will make it easier to clean your aligner.
When you are cleaning Invisalign trays, you should not use soap and water. If you use soap, this can stain and damage your trays and may even leave a bad taste in your mouth. You should also avoid using mouthwash to clean your trays, as the dyes can damage your aligners.
Instead, you should use toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your trays.
You should also avoid cleaning your aligners with hot water. This is because hot water can damage the plastic of your aligners and may even cause them to warp or discolor. Instead, you should only clean your aligners with lukewarm water.
Poor Oral Hygiene
When you wear Invisalign aligners, you still need to take great care of your oral hygiene. Many people fall behind on things like brushing their teeth and flossing because they feel like the Invisalign aligners keep their teeth clean.
However, bacteria can still thrive in your mouth when you wear your clear aligners. You need to make sure that you brush and floss your teeth after every meal to avoid trapping bacteria between your aligners and your teeth.
Having great oral hygiene will also help you improve the cosmetics of your smile.
Leaving Your Aligners Exposed
Finally, you should never leave your aligners exposed when you remove them. While it may be tempting to leave them on your plate or on a napkin when you remove your trays to eat or drink, you should always put them in an airtight container.
If you leave your aligners exposed, this makes it easier for bacteria to accumulate on your Invisalign trays. When you put the trays back in your mouth, the bacteria can harm your teeth and even increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
An airtight container will protect your aligners until you are ready to put them back on your teeth.
Plus, leaving them exposed increases the chance that you will accidentally throw away your aligners once you have finished eating. Keeping them in a designated case whenever you remove your aligners will help you avoid losing them.
Learn More About Common Invisalign Care Mistakes Today
When you have Invisalign, learning how to clean aligners and care for them is essential for your treatment. Learning more about these common Invisalign care mistakes can help you avoid them and learn how to properly care for your Invisalign aligners.
If you need help learning about Invisalign care or want to start your Invisalign treatment, Brentwood Dental Spa can help! We provide many cosmetic dentistry services from Invisalign to teeth whitening and more.
Contact our team today to learn more about Invisalign treatment or to schedule an appointment!