How to Clean Invisalign Trays

Invisalign Braces

Invisalign is a modern solution in dentistry to straighten your teeth without compromising the appearance of your smile. Invisalign utilizes clear plastic trays that straighten your teeth in a shorter time than braces. Since these trays are clear, no one can tell that you’re wearing them so you can fix your smile under the radar. 

To get the best results out of your Invisalign, you need to ensure that you’re wearing your Invisalign trays for about 22 hours a day and keeping them clean. If bacteria become trapped in your trays, this can damage your teeth and your aligners.

How Often Should You Clean Invisalign Trays?

You should clean your Invisalign trays twice a day when you clean your teeth and each time you remove them to eat. When you take your trays out to eat, rinse out the trays and your teeth before putting them back on to prevent staining.

How Do You Clean Invisalign Trays?

When you clean your clear aligners twice a day, do so with a denture cleaner, antibacterial soap, or you can make a DIY solution at home. However, you should not use toothpaste on your aligners. Get a new toothbrush dedicated purely to cleaning out your aligners. 

Refrain from using hot water, as this can compromise the shape of your trays. You should rinse out your trays with warm water every time you take them out to eat. Otherwise, plaque can build up as a result of dried saliva inside your aligners.

Store your aligners in their proper case when you are not wearing them, do not store them in a napkin. Remember to also clean the aligner storage case.

Cleaning Solutions

Denture Cleaning Tablets - The more thorough method to clean your Invisalign trays is to soak them once a week with denture cleaners. These cleaners are marketed to work on Invisalign trays and are available in the form of tablets. Soak the aligners for 30 minutes in lukewarm or cold water.

Antibacterial Soap - Mixing antibacterial soap with warm water effectively kills bacteria. Soak your aligners in this solution for 10-15 minutes and use a toothbrush to get inside the crevices. However, if you notice calcium buildup, you may still need to use a retainer or denture cleaning solution now and then.

Baking Soda - Because baking soda is abrasive and antibacterial, it is excellent for removing the buildup of plaque inside nooks and crannies. Dilute 1 tbsp of baking soda in 1 cup of warm water and leave the aligners to soak for 1 hour. Then, remove the trays from the solution and gently scrub them with a soft toothbrush.

Vinegar - Vinegar is a great disinfectant. Combine half vinegar and half water and soak your aligners in this solution for 15 minutes. Then, brush them with a soft toothbrush and rinse them out. Only use white vinegar to avoid staining.

Hydrogen Peroxide - Use 3% hydrogen peroxide which is the main ingredient in mouthwash. This is preferable to use because mouthwash often contains coloring agents that will stain your trays. Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide with warm water. Soak for 30 minutes, brush, and rinse. Concentrations higher than 3% may irritate your teeth or gums.

Interested in Invisalign?

Invisalign is a fast, convenient, and invisible way to correct crooked teeth without the use of metal braces. If you have moderate orthodontic problems, Invisalign could be suitable for you. Contact our Holden dentists at Khanani Family Dental to schedule a consultation.