How to Maintain Dental Hygiene with Aligners

If you wear clear aligners like Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you may wonder how to care for them properly. Aligners can trap food and bacteria, leading to various oral health issues if not cleaned properly. Maintaining good dental hygiene is crucial when wearing aligners.

This blog post provides tips on how to preserve your dental health while wearing clear aligners. We’ll cover proper cleaning methods, oral hygiene tools to use, dietary considerations, and other advice for keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

The Importance of Clean Aligners

Keeping your aligners clean is the foundation of dental hygiene with Invisalign or other clear braces. Trapped food debris can interact with bacteria in your mouth, producing acids that damage tooth enamel. Plaque buildup also irritates gums and causes bad breath.

That’s why you must clean aligners thoroughly each time you remove them. This prevents bacteria, plaque, and tartar accumulation that harms your oral health. While relatively transparent, aligners can appear cloudy if not cleaned properly.

Recommended Cleaning Methods

Hand Washing – Aligners should be gently scrubbed with a soft toothbrush and cool water whenever removed. Use mild soap if desired, but avoid abrasive toothpaste. Brush all surfaces – inside, outside, and where they contact teeth. Rinse thoroughly.

Soaking – Also, soak aligners in denture cleaner or a mix of equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide for 5-10 minutes daily. These solutions kill germs and help remove debris an ordinary brushing may miss.

Ultrasonic cleaner – Investing in an ultrasonic cleaner allows thorough disinfection and cleaning without abrasion. Simply add water and cleaning solution, drop in aligners, and let ultrasonic waves remove all contaminants. It takes just a few minutes!

Proper Oral Hygiene Tools – Maintaining good dental hygiene with Invisalign involves more than just cleaning the aligner. Brushing and flossing your actual teeth correctly is also essential.

Watch What You Eat and Drink

Avoid stain-causing foods – Curries, tomato sauce, berries, and red wine can permanently stain aligners. Either avoid these items or brush aligners immediately after consumption.

Cut out sugary beverages – Soda, juice, and sweet tea can seep under aligners and feed decay-causing bacteria. Stick to water while wearing your removable.

Chew sugar-free gum – Chewing gum promotes saliva flow to neutralize bacteria acids. Opt for sugar-free varieties while wearing aligners.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

See your dentist every six months – Attend regular dental cleanings for a thorough, professional teeth cleaning. Alert your hygienist that you now wear orthodontic aligners.

Report any oral pain – If you experience sudden tooth sensitivity or gum pain, promptly inform your dentist. This may indicate an underlying dental issue.

Request periodic aligner checkups – Your orthodontist should examine aligners at each appointment. This confirms they still fit correctly to achieve desired tooth movements. Inform them about any oral health problems, too.

Conclusion

Wearing clear aligners like Invisalign requires dedicating a bit more time to oral health. But establishing strong dental hygiene habits now preserves your smile for a lifetime after treatment finishes. Follow the above recommendations to keep teeth, gums, and aligners clean. With a little diligence, you’ll complete aligner therapy with improved dental wellness as well – giving you every reason to smile confidently!

And if you are seeking the best clear aligners near me in Hyderabad, visit National Dental Care. We have a team of expert doctors who evaluate your dental needs and give you the required treatment and aftercare. Book an appointment today to know more. 

FAQs

How often should I clean my aligners?

You should clean your aligners thoroughly each time you remove them from your mouth. At least twice per day is recommended, if not more often.

What is the best way to clean aligners?

Hand wash aligners with a soft toothbrush and mild soap. You can also soak them in denture cleaner or a 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water to further disinfect.

Do aligners cause bad breath?

Aligners themselves don’t cause halitosis, but trapped debris and bacteria under them can. Proper oral hygiene habits prevent this – brush teeth and gums well, floss effectively, and soak aligners in cleaning solution daily.

Can I wear aligners 24/7?

Your orthodontist will advise you on the time of wear of the aligner. Typically, you can wear it for 20-22 hours daily. The rest allows your teeth to breathe and stimulates saliva production to clear bacteria buildup.

Do aligners promote tooth decay?

Aligners certainly can. Trapped sugars from beverages and food under aligners interact with bacteria in plaque and saliva to form decay-causing acid. That’s why cleaning properly after eating and minimizing sugary snacks/drinks is vital.