After wanting to straighten your teeth for years, you’ve finally done something about it and started Invisalign. You have your first set of aligners, and you’re amazed at how they seemingly disappear when you slip them over your teeth. Of course, you want to keep them looking pristine, so that requires a little upkeep. What are the best ways to take care of your aligners? Read on below to learn the Do’s and Don’ts of Invisalign in El Reno!  

DO…

• Rinse your aligners whenever you take them out. Dry saliva and plaque can gather on them throughout the day, which creates the perfect environment for foul smelling bacteria. A quick rinse will go a long way in preventing this!
• Clean your teeth before putting your aligners back on. Taking consistent care of your teeth is essential to maintaining a healthy smile and avoiding cavities during treatment. Because Invisalign trays are designed to fit tightly around your teeth, they can easily trap plaque and bacteria against them if you don’t consistently brush and floss, heightening your risk for dental problems. If you don’t have time to brush and floss in the middle of the day, make sure you at least give your mouth a thorough rinse.
• Clean your aligners every day, ideally using a clear, anti-bacterial soft soap. This will help keep your aligners nice and see through and prevent staining, plus it will get rid of bacteria.
• Brush your aligners daily, but with a gentle touch. Brushing your aligners with too much force can actually scratch them and leave visible marks. These tiny abrasions can also serve as havens for bacteria, so remember to always go light!
• See your dentist in El Reno for progress checks. They’ll make sure your treatment is staying on track, and they’ll be able to catch any small problems before they can cause major issues!

 DON’T…

• Eat or drink anything except plain water while wearing your aligners. Doing so can cause your aligners to develop stains, odors, and they just aren’t designed to stand up to the chewing forces, so you can warp their shape and even break them!
• Use regular toothpaste to clean your aligners. Toothpaste is usually slightly abrasive, especially those with whitening agents, and this can lead to scratches on your aligners where bacteria can quickly accumulate.
• Use colored soaps to clean your aligners. While using an anti-bacterial soap to wash your aligners is great, anything other than clear soap can cause them to noticeably stain.
• Leave your aligners out in the open while you aren’t wearing them. This is a good way to lose your aligners, and it also exposes them to germs and bacteria. Place your trays in a carrying case whenever you aren’t wearing them, and be sure to give them a nice rinse before putting them back on.

Keep these handy tips in mind, and your trays will look like new and your teeth will be nice and healthy throughout your entire Invisalign treatment. And, before you know it, you’ll have a perfectly straight set of teeth to greet you in the mirror every morning!

About the Author

Dr. Adam Cohlmia is a family, restorative, and cosmetic dentist in El Reno. A graduate of the OU College of Dentistry, he has been providing local families with a wide variety of dental services since 2011. To get more tips about taking care of Invisalign, or if you’re interested in getting the treatment for yourself or your teen, Dr. Cohlmia can be reached through his website.