Taking care of your Invisalign aligners is important for both getting the best results and keeping your mouth healthy. We give all our patients extensive instructions on how to take care of their aligners at Dentistry on the Pines. We want to share some of that with you. Taking care of your Invisalign trays well will keep them clear, comfortable and working well during your treatment in Vaughan.

You should clean your aligners every day as part of your routine. Every morning when you take off your aligners to have breakfast, rinse them with warm water to get rid of any saliva or buildup that may have accumulated overnight. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean the aligners with a small amount of clear, antibacterial soap or toothpaste. Do not use scented or coloured soaps as they can leave residue or change the colour of the plastic. Never use hot water to clean your aligners. It can warp the plastic and change how they fit, which would make your treatment less effective.

When you take your aligners out to eat or drink, rinse them off right away. This simple step stops bacteria and odours from building up. Always put your aligners in their protective case when you take them out. Don’t wrap them in a napkin or leave them on a table. When patients wrap their aligners in napkins, they often throw them away by mistake. Getting new aligners can be costly and slow down your treatment.

You should clean and floss your teeth well before putting your aligners back in after eating. Patients often forget about this important part of taking care of their Invisalign. Putting your aligners back on dirty teeth means food, sugar and bacteria will be stuck to your teeth for hours at a time. This allows cavities and gum disease to grow. Taking a few extra minutes to brush your teeth well after every meal will help keep your mouth healthy while you’re in treatment. There’s no doubt good dental hygiene is important for good results in orthodontics.

Soaking your aligners once a day keeps them clean and fresh. You can use Invisalign cleaning crystals which are made for this purpose or a denture cleaner without harsh chemicals. Put the cleaning solution in a small cup of lukewarm water and let your aligners soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse them well after soaking before putting them back in your mouth. This will get rid of stubborn buildup and keep your aligners looking and smelling good.

While wearing your aligners, don’t drink anything but water. Coffee, tea, soda, juice and other drinks can stain plastic and may have sugar or acid in them that gets stuck to your teeth. Take your aligners out before you consume anything other than water. This is also why we say take your aligners out before eating. Chewing with them in can break the plastic and change how they fit.

Be gentle with your aligners so they don’t crack or break. The plastic is strong but if you drop it on a hard surface or bend it too hard it can still break. Take your aligners out slowly and carefully, starting from the back teeth and moving forward. If you rush this process you can put too much stress on the plastic.

Also keep your case clean. You should wash it with soap and water often and let it air dry completely. If your case is dirty it can put bacteria back on your clean aligners which defeats the whole purpose of keeping everything clean.

We consider taking care of your Invisalign as part of our General Dentistry services at Dentistry on the Pines. Patients who learn how to take care of their aligners and teeth during treatment will get the best results. If you make good choices today you’ll get beautiful healthy outcomes tomorrow.

We’ll go over all of these care guidelines with you in detail if you’re in Vaughan and getting ready to start Invisalign treatment. We give you the tools and information you need to keep your aligners and teeth in great shape during the whole process. Call us to book an appointment to learn more about Invisalign and how to make your treatment go as smooth as possible. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of your smile. Whether it’s whitening, veneers, or reshaping teeth, small changes can boost confidence. Patients in Vaughan can explore natural-looking options tailored to their goals.