One of the biggest perks to wearing invisible braces is that you can remove them for brushing and flossing. Teeth brushing with metal braces is slightly more involved because you must work the floss and toothbrush around the braces brackets. With Invisalign and other clear aligners, you don’t have to worry about that. Here is a quick guide for cleaning teeth with invisible braces.
Brushing and Flossing with Invisible Braces
Brushing and flossing with Invisalign isn’t much different than brushing normally. Follow these steps:
- Remove your clear aligners and rinse them off with water. Set them on a clean towel on the countertop while you brush your teeth.
- Brush all surfaces of your teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Make sure to cover the backs of your teeth, the farthest back teeth in your smile, your gums, and even your tongue. Brush at least twice per day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss between all of your teeth at least once per day. With no metal wires crossing between your teeth, you should be able to easily glide the floss into place.
- Rinse your mouth out, if desired. If you’re unable to brush your teeth after each meal, a quick rinse will reduce the food trapped in your aligners.
- Clean your invisible aligners. You can do this with toothpaste, lukewarm water, or a special cleaning solution designed for invisible braces. See the next section to learn more.
- Put your clear braces back in. It’s important to wear your aligners at least 20-22 hours per day. Don’t forget them on the counter or leave them out overnight. Make sure you put them back once you’ve cleaned your smile.
How to Clean Clear Aligner Trays
To clean your clear aligners, you can soak them in a special solution made for clear braces. You could also lightly brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste. Make sure the toothbrush has a small enough head to reach all the crevices in the trays. You might want a combination of soaking and brushing to fully clean your aligners.
If your aligners are starting to look stained or yellowed, try soaking them in an equal mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water. If that doesn’t work, you could talk to your orthodontist to see if you could transition to your next set of trays a few days early.
How to Prevent Stains on Invisible Braces
Invisible braces trays can stain if they’re persistently exposed to dark liquids. Ideally, you should take out your braces when drinking coffee, soda, tea or anything that’s not water. Since that isn’t always an option, we recommend using a straw when consuming these beverages to minimize the amount of time they sit around your teeth.
If you have clear braces attachments on your teeth, those may also be prone to staining. These attachments are designed to give the braces something to push against for certain alignment tasks. Attachments aren’t necessary for all treatment, but if you have them, avoid dark drinks to prevent staining.
Get Custom Invisalign Cleaning Tips from Your Orthodontist
Every smile is unique, and your orthodontist may have cleaning recommendations specific to your needs. They’ll take into account your lifestyle and your braces journey to provide personalized oral care tips. Clinton Dental Center offers affordable invisible braces in Chesterfield MI. We work with clients throughout Southeast Michigan who want to get a straight smile in a short amount of time. Give us a call at (586) 949-5363 to start your Invisalign journey.
