Starting your journey toward a straighter smile is an exciting step. Clear aligners make orthodontic treatment discreet, but keeping those trays clean requires a bit of daily attention. Without proper care, your aligners can quickly trap bacteria, become stained, or develop an unpleasant odor.
At Yonkers Dental Arts in Yonkers, New York, Alicia Schraner, DDS, and Avi Malkis, DDS, help patients achieve beautiful smiles with Invisalign®. We want to make sure your treatment is as comfortable and hygienic as possible.
Wearing clear aligners creates a sealed environment over your teeth. You must wear your aligners for at least 22 hours every day to achieve the best results; constant wear means your trays are in close contact with your teeth and gums for almost the entire day.
Because they stay in your mouth so long, plaque and bacteria can easily build up on the plastic. Regular cleaning prevents this buildup, keeping your breath fresh and protecting your teeth from decay during your orthodontic treatment.
Cleaning your aligners requires the right approach. Luckily, it’s not complicated: Combining gentle mechanical brushing with chemical disinfection is the most effective way to remove plaque biofilms from clear aligners.
Every time you take your trays out, rinse them under cool or lukewarm water. Gently brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mild, clear liquid soap to remove any buildup. Avoid using hot water, as high temperatures can warp the thermoplastic material and ruin the fit.
Many people look for household shortcuts to clean their trays, but some DIY methods can actually damage them. For example, you might hear that soaking your aligners in vinegar is a safe, natural way to disinfect them.
However, recent clinical trials show that soaking clear aligners in a diluted vinegar solution causes noticeable, unwanted color changes to the material. To keep your trays completely invisible, stick to recommended cleaning crystals or mild soaps, instead of harsh household chemicals.
Taking care of your clear aligner trays ensures your treatment stays on track and your smile remains healthy. If you have questions about your orthodontic care — or if you want to see if clear aligners are right for you — our Yonkers Dental Arts team is here to help.
Contact our office in Yonkers, New York, by phone or online to schedule a consultation with our experienced Invisalign specialists today.
