How to Keep Your Invisalign Clear Aligners Clean With DIY & Homemade Cleaning Methods

Do you remember just a few years back when the only way to get your smile straight was to have your mouth full of metal brackets and wires? But you have to believe us, before the seventies, it was much worse.

Brackets weren’t cemented to teeth as we know them today. Instead, orthodontists used to wrap teeth in a metallic band that worked as brackets to hold the wires. Unfortunately, this wasn’t what you could call painless or comfortable.

Forty years later, we had Invisalign, which is discreet, comfy, and hygienic. In this article, we discuss some of the most valuable tips to have your Invisalign trays clean and stain-free without spending much money, and best of all, you can do this at home.

How To Clean Invisalign?

When we think of conventional braces Enid, oral hygiene is strenuous. Indeed, patients must follow a protocol that includes detailed and extended brushing, using interdental brushes, self-threading flossers, and mouthwash after meals.

From an orthodontist and oral health professional perspective, following such protocol is recommendable even for non-braces patients. But we want to make sure everybody is aware of it; we know it is sometimes complicated to make it a disciplined routine.

Fortunately, in 1998 the FDA approved Invisalign, just fourteen years ago. We won’t go deep on Invisalign right now. Actually, we want to emphasize one of its core benefits: its removability helping patients practice their regular oral hygiene routine.

We divided this section into two parts. First, Align Technologies and counter products (brand cleaning products). Second DIY and homemade effective cleaning methods for Invisalign clear aligners:

Brand Cleaning Products for Invisalign Trays

Invisalign Cleaning Crystals

Cleaning Crystals is a brand’s product that consists of a set of fifty packets of crystals. The manufacturer’s suggested price for each set is $54,99 by the moment we write this article.

Each packet contains Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Sodium Dichlorosocyanurate, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. These ingredients work for fifteen minutes, clearing, cleaning, and leaving your trays free of bacteria. This is how it works:

• detach the aligners and rinse with water;
• fill the container with lukewarm water and place the aligners into the tub;
• put the content of one package of cleaning crystals in the container;
• shake for twenty seconds so it dissolves;
• let the solution work for fifteen minutes;
• shake for twenty seconds again;
• rinse the aligners and container with lukewarm water and;
• maintain the crystals in a cool, dry place

Invisalign Aligner Cleaning Foam

You must place the aligners in their case, covering them in foam. Wait five minutes, letting the foam work. Then, rinse and brush the aligners before placing them back in your mouth. The manufacturer’s suggested price for the foam is $22,99 by the moment we write this article.

DIY and Homemade Cleaning Methods for Invisalign Trays

Keeping your aligners clean is essential for optimal treatment results. Next, we bring some of the most valuable tips for having clean trays, including a natural antiseptic that helps you get a deep cleaning with a basic cleaning method.

Soap and Water

Spill a bit of liquid antibacterial soap on each tray and brush them for a couple of minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You can also put some unscented liquid soap in a container, stirring until you get suds. Leave your trays for thirty minutes in the container and then rinse them.

Vinegar and Water

White vinegar doesn’t taste that good, but this method is quite effective and will only cost you a little. You must mix half a cup of vinegar with the same amount of water and place your trays in the container for twenty minutes. Remember to rinse the aligners thoroughly to eliminate the vinegar solution taste.

Baking Soda and Water

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with half a cup of water. Once the mixture is consistent, insert the trays and leave them for thirty minutes. Similar to the previous methods, rinse thoroughly and brush the appliances.

How Often Should You Clean Invisalign?

You must clean your aligners after every single meal. We recommend you wash your trays with liquid soap and soak them in either vinegar or baking soda solutions at night before sleeping.

Can You Clean Invisalign With Hydrogen Peroxide?

You surely can. Similarly, with vinegar, mix half a cup of hydrogen peroxide and another half of water in a container and place the trays into the solution for twenty minutes. Again, you must rinse and brush your trays after it.

Is It Really That Bad Not To Clean Your Retainer?

Yes, it is bad not to clean your Invisalign retainers. You must consider your mouth has bacteria, and skipping cleaning the aligners would make bacteria accumulate. Also, refrain from wearing your aligners if you eat and haven’t brushed and flossed your teeth. Food particles might get stuck in the teeth and pass to the aligners, so regular cleaning is important to avoid tooth decay and other dental issues.

Compassionate and Caring Orthodontics

At Rose Rock Orthodontics, we focus on helping our patients have beautiful smiles with compassionate and caring service. We work to make your Enid orthodontic treatment as gratifying, satisfying, and affordable as possible.