Invisalign is one of today’s most popular orthodontic treatments that helps with misalignment of the teeth and also improves your bite. After treatment with a trusted orthodontist, it is inevitable that you will have perfect tooth alignment.
But whether it’s Invisalign or hidden braces, you have a responsibility as a patient. You should properly care for your plates. Just taking good care of your Invisalign can make a significant transformation in your smile. The biggest mistake you can make as a patient is to ignore your records.
Clean the Aligners Regularly
The most basic way to care for your Invisalign is to clean the plates frequently. Many of you might think that cleaning two or three times a week would work, but no. Make it a habit to clean your plaque every morning and evening while brushing your teeth. You can use a soft toothbrush to clean Invisalign. Apply some toothpaste on it and gently rub both sides of the plaque. Make sure you don’t use cold or hot water for washing. Hot water can warp plates, as they are made of thermoplastic, while cold water can shrink plates. Instead, use room temperature water to rinse your Invisalign plates.
Always Take Out While Eating
Unlike your permanent braces, with Invisalign you have the option to remove them whenever you want. So remove plaque before eating and do this every time. If you can’t remove it, the food and drinks you consume may damage or stain your plaques. Food particles stuck to your plaque can easily reach your teeth and gums, leading to high bacteria and ultimately disease. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, which then requires professional attention. You can get rid of all these problems by removing the plaques while eating.
Don’t Keep Aligners Everywhere
This is perhaps the point where you should be most careful from the day you receive Invisalign treatment. Do not place the aligners in random places when you are not wearing them. Get a box for this and always keep it there in case you need to take it out for food or something.
The reason you use boxes instead of towels is to prevent plaque from contacting bacteria. A clean box, used only for your Invisalign, allows you to safely put them back on while also protecting them from damage.
Avoid Abrasives When Cleaning
When you have Invisalign or braces treatment, you should ask your orthodontist about the maintenance procedure. And they will ensure you don’t make simple mistakes like using abrasive materials to clean Invisalign. As mentioned above, always use soft materials for aligners.
Things like soap, mouthwash, or denture cleaners can damage Invisalign and make it look dull. You may not notice it instantly, but if you continue to do it regularly, soon they will not be as invisible as at first and will be easily seen.
Solution
If you are about to have Invisalign treatment, be sure to consider these plaque care tips. But the first thing to do is to get Invisalign treatment from an experienced orthodontist.
