How To Care For Invisalign In North Tampa
Taking care of your Invisalign aligners is key to keeping your mouth healthy and on track with your treatment. We give all our patients at Miller Orthodontics detailed instructions on how to care for their aligners, but many of our patients in North Tampa want to know the best way to keep their Invisalign clean and in good shape during treatment. We’ll show you the top things to know about caring for your aligners so you can keep your teeth and gums healthy and get the smile you want. Invisalign is a modern orthodontic solution that straightens teeth discreetly using clear, removable aligners.
One of the most important things to know about taking care of your Invisalign is to clean your aligners often, just like you do your teeth. The aligners are on your teeth for 20 to 22 hours a day so any bacteria or plaque on them can harm your oral health. You should clean your aligners well every morning and night. The easiest way is to use a soft bristle toothbrush and clear, antibacterial soap or mild dish soap. Brush all the surfaces of the aligners, even the ones that touch your teeth. Make sure to rinse them well with warm water to get rid of any soap before putting them back in your mouth.
It would seem to make sense to use toothpaste to clean your aligners but we don’t recommend it. Most toothpastes have rough ingredients meant to clean tooth enamel but those same rough ingredients can scratch the plastic of your aligners. Those scratches make the aligners look foggy and can create tiny crevices where bacteria can hide which makes them harder to clean. There are cleaning crystals and pills that dissolve in water to make a cleaning solution if you want something made just for aligners. This solution is all you need to soak your aligners in for the recommended time. Then rinse and brush them gently.
The temperature of the water is important when washing your aligners. Never use boiling water; instead use lukewarm or cool water. Plastic aligners can warp when they come into contact with hot water which changes their shape and makes them less comfortable to wear. If hot water warps your aligner it won’t move your teeth correctly and you may have to get a new one which can slow down your treatment. This also means you should be careful where you put your aligners when you’re not wearing them. Don’t leave them in a heated car, near a heater or in the sun.
When you’re not wearing your aligners always keep them in their case. We at Miller Orthodontics in North Tampa give you a case for this reason. A lot of people wrap their aligners in a napkin when they eat at a restaurant which often causes them to throw them away by mistake. Some people leave them out on a counter where pets can get to them, they can get damaged or they can get misplaced. Dogs seem to really like Invisalign aligners. We’ve heard a lot of stories of canines chewing apart aligners that were left out in the open. Invisalign for Teens is designed to fit growing smiles while allowing flexibility for school, sports, and daily activities.
During Invisalign treatment it’s even more important to take care of your teeth. You should clean and floss your teeth before putting your aligners back in after eating. You should clean and clean your teeth before putting your aligners back in your mouth. You should clean and clean your teeth before putting them back in your mouth. If you put your aligners back in your mouth, you can trap your teeth and put your teeth back in your mouth. If you put your aligners back in your mouth, you can put your teeth and mouth back in your teeth and align them back in your mouth.
As you move through the different stages of treatment in North Tampa you will get new sets of aligners. You’ll wear each set for one to two weeks before moving on to the next one. Even though you’ll be getting new aligners periodically you should still maintain good cleaning habits with each set. You should clean your aligner because it’s more comfortable to wear, looks better and is better for your teeth.
We at Miller Orthodontics are here to help you with any questions you have about how to care for your Invisalign aligners. If you see any damage to your aligners, are having trouble keeping them clean or have any other issues during treatment please don’t hesitate to contact us.