Wearing Invisalign braces is a step closer to achieving the perfect smile you dream of. Invisalign braces are slowly taking over the throne of metal braces in Singapore when addressing mild-to-moderate dental irregularities like crooked teeth and overbite.
If you are wearing invisible aligners now, you probably already know the golden rule of wearing them for at least 22 hours a day. Aside from this, another essential thing that you should never forget is to keep your Invisalign braces as clean as possible.
If you do not adequately clean your braces regularly, you might end up wasting all the effort, time, and money that you have invested in perfecting your smile. This helpful guide highlights the most critical oral cleaning habits that you must develop when undergoing Invisalign treatment.
1. Clean both your teeth and Invisalign braces after waking up
After waking up in the morning, the first thing that you should do is to make sure that you remove your invisible braces, brush your teeth, and clean your aligners before putting them back inside your mouth.
Bacteria can build up while you are fast asleep with your aligners on. Hence, it would be best to clean your teeth and braces before going to bed at night and after waking up in the morning.
2. Rinse your Invisalign braces every time you remove them
Whenever you remove your Invisalign braces to eat or drink, it is necessary that you also rinse them with water before wearing them again in your mouth. Rinsing your braces from time to time will help prevent foul-smelling bacteria from clinging to them.
However, when doing this, make sure to avoid using hot water because it might cause your aligners to bend or melt. To be sure, always use lukewarm or cold water when rinsing your braces, so you can easily remove the dried adherent saliva attached to them.
3. Always brush and floss your teeth
Brushing and flossing are essential habits that everyone must have to maintain good oral hygiene. However, they become extra necessary when you are wearing Invisalign braces.
Since the aligners block your saliva from washing out food particles, your probability of bacterial and plaque buildup resulting in oral disease is relatively high.
Hence, if you are undergoing Invisalign treatment, you need to keep your teeth and braces clean all the time by regularly brushing and flossing them.
4. Soak your Invisalign aligners every day
Brushing your Invisalign braces is not enough to ensure their cleanliness. The best way to make sure that your set of aligners is clean and sanitised is to soak them in any safe cleaning solutions. Examples include water and unscented detergent, hydrogen peroxide, and retainer cleanser.
You should avoid drenching them in mouthwash or hot water because they can damage your braces. This particular cleaning habit disinfects your aligners from fungi and bacteria and prevents odor, tough stains, and debris from accumulating.
5. Keep your Invisalign aligners in a case when not in use
When you are not wearing your Invisalign aligners, you should keep them in a case instead of just putting them on a napkin because there is a chance that you might accidentally throw them away.
The casing will protect your aligners from bacteria and other potential damages. In Singapore, Invisalign braces cost a bit more than other orthodontic treatments, so safeguarding your aligners is necessary.
Conclusion
Ensuring that your Invisalign braces are clean and sanitised 24/7 is essential in maximising the effectiveness of your orthodontic treatment. Having clean invisible aligners is the key to achieving a perfectly straight and healthy set of white teeth.
If you do not want your time, money, and effort in achieving your dream smile to be spent in vain, be sure to practice good oral hygiene and clean your braces from time to time.
If you need more guidance when it comes to taking care of your Invisalign braces or other orthodontic treatments such as metal braces in Singapore, it is best to consult an expert orthodontist.