Hands up if you feel confident about the state of your teeth?
If your hand is down, you’re not alone.
These days, it’s easy to feel less than confident about your pearly whites. In recent years, people have become increasingly fixated on the appearance of their teeth.
As a result, the way you feel about your teeth and smile is central to your self-esteem.
The good news is that Invisalign aligners will make your smile as bright and white as you like. When you care for them properly, that is. Here’s how to care for Invisalign liners.
Striving for the Perfect Smile
Do you ever get the feeling that people aren’t looking at you in the eye when chatting to them?
You might be right. People notice teeth straight away. These days, every celebrity has a perfect line of straight, white teeth. It’s unlikely that you’ll ever see famous models or personalities with anything other than the most perfect smile.
As a result, people have become less tolerant of any degree of dental discolouration, chipped choppers or, worst case scenario, skew teeth. Along with this, dentists have upgraded their techniques with the help of vastly improved technology.
What this means is that dentistry is more effective, less invasive and more accessible than ever before. The pressure is on to sport a sparkling smile and people are responding. The good news is that you can avoid the terrifying drills and metal train tracks.
Instead, simply wear a clear Invisalign retainer for a few months and a perfectly straight smile could be yours.
Benefits of Invisalign
It’s clear that the world of dentistry has improved leaps and bounds.
Today, you can straighten your teeth quickly and easily. In as little as 12 to 18 months, Invisalign braces will have a dramatic impact on your smile.
In addition to working speedily, they’re also pretty invisible, as the name suggests. The almost invisible aligners imply fit over your teeth – you’ll hardly notice they’re there at all.
This means that older people, teenagers, and adults, who are too self-conscious to have traditional metal braces, will benefit greatly from Invisalign.
It’s widely agreed that your teeth leave a lasting impression on anyone you meet. In line with this, an important benefit of Invisalign braces is that they can vastly improve your confidence and self-esteem while working on your smile.
Invisalign eliminates the problem of feeling as though your appearance is altered while wearing them. Most of the time, no one will even realise you’re wearing them.
No more food stuck in metal braces. Gone are the days of having to floss around each individual brace and bracket. So, now you know the good news.
You can boost your confidence quickly and easily with the help of Invisalign.
How To Clean Invisalign
If you’re wondering how to clean Invisalign, you’ve come to the right place. Getting your hands on Invisalign Cleaner is your first task in ensuring a thorough Invisalign cleaning.
Invisalign cleaner is the best way to ensure your retainer is being thoroughly cleansed without damaging the Invisalign material itself.
Another one of Invisalign’s greatest advantages is that you can pop them out when you eat and drink. But remember, this doesn’t mean they don’t get dirty.
A critical part of your treatment is keeping your aligners clean. Plus it’s the only way to ensure they stay invisible, odorless and free of germs. If you neglect your cleaning routine, you run the risk of your aligners gaining a plaque and bacteria build-up.
This will cause them to smell and discolour, which is the exact opposite of what you’re trying to achieve. The build-up will also erode your teeth enamel, which means it’s simply essential to clean your aligners properly.
The good news is that cleaning an Invisalign retainer is simple and only takes a few minutes. Keep in mind that you should be in the habit of cleaning your retainer every time you brush your teeth. You’ll need a toothbrush, toothpaste, and Invisalign Cleaner.
Simple Steps
For a thorough Invisalign cleaning, follow these simple steps. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t use very cold or very hot water, as this may damage the material of the Invisalign retainer.
- Using lukewarm water, rinse the Invisalign retainer.
- Using small, circular motions, gently brush the whole retainer with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Rinse the retainer again with lukewarm water once you’ve completely brushed the inside and outside of it.
- Retainers are the same as your teeth and are susceptible to tartar buildup. At this point, ensure the retainer is free of any calcium or tartar buildup. It appears as a white film and is tricky to get off.
- If you notice calcium buildup, soak the retainer in a retainer cleaning solution according to the product’s instructions.
- When you’re finished with these steps, you can place the Invisalign retainer back in your mouth or in a case to dry.
How to Care for Invisalign
Keep in mind that regular cleansing, as explained above, is only one component of properly caring for your Invisalign retainer.
Many people ask, can you eat with Invisalign? It is possible, but it’s a better idea to remove the retainer when you eat. Either way, food particles can still get stuck in the retainer and careful attention should be paid to ensure they’re removed.
Any cleansing with harsh ingredients could corrode the retainer. Along with this, remember that you should never soak your retainer in mouthwash. Most mouthwashes contain added colour, which the retainer can absorb. Because Invisalign is clear, it’ll leave you with a tinted retainer.
We’ve mentioned that you should use lukewarm water only on your Invisalign retainer. Water that’s too hot can distort the retainer’s shape, which means it’ll be ill-fitting and unable to fulfill its purpose. If you have used warm or hot water to clean your retainer in the past, bring it to your orthodontist to ensure that it still fits correctly.
When the orthodontist instructs you to move to the next set of retainers, make sure you thoroughly clean it and store it in a dry box. There are some instances where people are advised to wear a previous retainer.
Your retainer should, therefore, be stored away bacteria-free to prevent odour or residue.
Traveling with Invisalign
The ability to remove the Invisalign retainer makes them incredibly convenient. But it can cause issues, especially when you travel.
The last thing you want is to misplace your retainer or leave it behind on a plane or in a hotel room. You want to keep them safe and free from damage. You also want to keep them as clean as possible, even when in a different country.
Here are some useful tips if you’ll be traveling with Invisalign.
Keep a Supply
It’s recommended that you carry around three pairs of aligners with you when you travel. Your previous, current and next set. For longer travel periods, take even more sets with you.
Along with this, take an extra case around with when you travel. Cases are also easy to misplace and serve an important duty of keeping your retainer clean and safe.
Rinsing Responsibility
The best case scenario is that you brush your retainer every time you take them out or put them back in.
In a restaurant or while traveling, this may not always be possible. As an alternative, you can rinse off your aligners and rinse out your mouth before putting them back in. Then, when you’re back in your room, you can give them a proper clean.
The Next Steps
After reading this article, it’s pretty clear why it’s so important to properly care For Invisalign. Now that you’re armed with the knowledge about how to clean and care for your Invisalign as effectively as possible, you’re able to get the most out of your retainers.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an Invisalign teen or adult, there’s no reason to neglect the care of your Invisalign retainer.
So now, what are the next steps?
For more information about Invisalign, please contact us. We’re more than happy to guide you through the options that’ll suit you best. Your dental health is our main priority. It should be yours too.
