There are so many benefits to invisible aligners. You can get the smile of your dreams without the need to be embarrassed by classic metal braces, especially if you have chosen to align your teeth at an older age.
However, if you don’t take care of your braces or your teeth while wearing the braces, you may find that the end result becomes a nightmare that causes more problems than you had previously.
Whether you opt for Invisalign or our other invisible braces, you need to ensure you look after them, both while wearing and when they are out of your mouth. Due to the removable nature of many of these aligners, they require different maintenance than the classic metal braces many are familiar with. Read on to find out how to look after your braces and mouth during wear.
Store Your Aligners in The Case
When you are not wearing your braces, you will need to store them safely in their case. This will help protect them from damage and keep them away from harmful bacteria or dirt.
You won’t have to store your braces very often, as you should wear them for around 20 hours a day. But they will need storing when you are eating or cleaning your teeth, so keep the case handy for these situations.
Storing them in the case means they are less likely to get bent, accidentally thrown out, fall on the floor or be picked up by someone or something else.
In addition, make sure you keep your case clean, too, as they need to be a safe bacteria-free place to store your aligners.
Clean Regularly with Non-Abrasive Materials
Get into the habit of regular cleaning for your braces. You should clean them thoroughly every time you brush your teeth, so both morning and night.
The plaque that builds up on your teeth throughout the day and night will also build up on your aligners, so if you don’t clean them while brushing your teeth, you will cause issues for your teeth as soon as you put them back in.
To clean them, all you need to do is use a soft-bristled brush and some toothpaste and gently scrub the aligners. Do not use anything abrasive to clean them, such as hard toothbrushes, mouthwash soap or denture cleaner. These things can cause damage to your aligners and cause them to discolour so they will no longer be invisible.
Rinse Your Aligners
There is a distinct difference between cleaning and rinsing your retainers. However, both are very important. Rinsing your aligners will make them appear cleaner and remove saliva and some plaque build-up, but not as much as cleaning them with toothpaste.
It is good to get into the habit of rinsing your braces whenever you take them out, though. By doing this, you help reduce the plaque build-up throughout the day and avoid staining your trays.
Soak Aligners in Cleaning Crystals
Calcium build-up on your retainers can result in a cloudy white film appearing on them. To get rid of this build-up, you can soak your aligners in a crystal cleaning solution provided by your dentist.
This will also protect you against harmful bacteria such as E Coli, Oral Staph, Strep and Oral Thrush and prevent staining and odours.
Do Not Eat While Wearing
Always make sure you remove your trays while eating. This is especially important for hot food and drinks that can cause staining or warping.
It can be quite easy to damage aligners as they are only made from plastic, so it’s important you do not try and chew anything hard or sticky as this can cause them to split and make them difficult to clean.
Even juice and soft drinks can cause issues. The only thing that you should consume when wearing the braces is water.
Continue With Good Oral Health Practices
Good oral health is always important, even more so if you have decided to invest in invisible braces from our Private Dentist in Manchester. You want to ensure that the result is your desired result, and the only way to do that is to take care of your teeth as well as the braces.
You should carry on brushing your teeth twice a day, complete with flossing. This is important because your braces will hold plaque in place against the teeth while you are wearing them, so you must try and get rid of it as often as possible. Brushing after eating is always a good idea so your teeth can be as clean as possible when you put your braces back in.
Get any Issues Resolved Quickly
Finally, the best way to look after your braces, and your teeth, while undergoing orthodontic treatments is to raise any issues with your dentist.
We have years of experience in providing Invisalign braces in Manchester and pride ourselves on offering a high-quality solution to straightening your teeth and creating the perfect smile. However, that’s not to say that issues won’t arise.
If your braces start causing too much discomfort or get damaged, don’t wait until the next appointment to get them looked at, as it could delay your treatment. Instead, simply contact our team to discuss the issue in detail.