Article by:
Amelia Grant
So, you’ve started your journey with Invisalign and were given a set of clear retainers to guide your teeth into the proper position. You're enthusiastic about how beautiful your smile will be, but you have a long way to go.
It is more difficult to achieve the perfect smile with these retainers than it is to wear them. Proper Invisalign retainer maintenance is vital for achieving the greatest results and avoiding costly replacement retainers. One of the biggest benefits of New York Invisalign is the ability to eat and drink without wearing them, but they can still become dirty.
Keeping them clean is the only way to keep them clean, free of doors, and germ-free. It is crucial to keep them clean. Without proper cleaning and care, your aligners can change color, and smell, and cause plaque and bacteria deposits, wreaking havoc on your teeth's enamel.
Taking care of an Invisalign retainer is simple and takes only a few minutes. Every time you brush your teeth, practice cleaning your retainer as well. To properly clean an Invisalign retainer, you'll need toothpaste, a brush or retention brush, and a retainer or denture cleanser.
Run the retainer under warm water to remove any big particles;
Get some toothpaste and apply it to your toothbrush or retainer brush. Brush the whole retainer with gentle circular strokes;
Rinse it again with running water;
Check your retainer for white marks. This could imply tarter or calcium deposits, which are common on retainers and difficult to remove;
If you notice an increase in calcium, soak the retainer in the denture or retainer cleaning solution according to the package directions. Invisalign manufactures a cleaning system specifically designed for Invisalign retainers, although you can use any denture or retainer cleaning product bought in a drugstore;
After cleaning it, place the retainer back in your mouth.
Here's what you should and shouldn't do to take care of your retainers.
You should:
Rinse regularly. Whenever you remove your aligners from your mouth, properly rinse them under running water. Bacteria, saliva, and food debris are then washed away;
Soak often. Cleaning crystals are specifically manufactured by Invisalign to assist clean and maintaining the clarity of your retainers;
Maintain proper dental hygiene. It's not enough to only clean your aligners; you should also clean your teeth on a regular basis. To prevent bacteria from growing behind your aligners, floss and brush daily;
Use an antibacterial mild soap. This creates a more hostile environment for microorganisms on your aligners;
Brush lightly. Brushing too vigorously can damage your aligners.
You should not:
Consume certain foods or beverages. It is possible to stain your aligners with strongly flavored or colored beverages. To be safe, always drink water while wearing your aligners and avoid eating.
Use toothpaste on your aligners. Toothpaste is beneficial to your teeth, but it can ruin your aligners. Brush them softly and without paste. Be careful with mouthwash, which might stain Invisalign retainers;
Use scented soap. These may contain compounds that cause stains, so stick with more neutral-smelling soap. The most common and costly error is failing to place your container in your mouth immediately after brushing or eating. If you are busy or distracted, you should devise a strategy to assist you in remembering to return them each time. Setting an alarm for half an hour after you start eating will remind you to put them back in;
Miss your visits to the orthodontist. If you want to achieve the result with your Invisalign, you need to be consistent in this process.
