According to our North Houston dentist, having good oral care habits is always important, even more so during your Invisalign treatment. To care for your teeth and aligners during your time in Invisalign, you should do the following.
Brush After Every Meal
To preserve the integrity of your aligners you should remove them prior to eating. Store them somewhere safe where you won’t misplace them.
Aligners can trap bacteria, which can quickly turn to decay. You should brush your teeth after every meal before reinserting your trays.
To make this less of a hassle for you, we suggest using a small pouch to store your day-to-day dental hygiene products. Always keep your oral care kit nearby, you may even want to have more than one so that you always have peace of mind knowing that you have the tools that you need handy. Consider keeping a pouch in your purse, briefcase, car, locker, desk, or office bathroom.
Before Going to Bed
Invisalign aligners should be worn while you sleep. Before going to bed, perform a final cleaning of your teeth and trays.
To do so, remove your trays and brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush on the inside and outside. You can use your toothpaste or a scent-free antibacterial soap to do so. Rinse the trays thoroughly then brush your teeth. If you used soap to clean your trays then have a separate brush for your teeth, which should also have soft bristles. When brushing, pay close attention to what you’re doing to ensure that you’re getting all of the hard to reach areas. Flossing after you brush is recommended and using a fluoride mouthwash can help reduce your risk of developing cavities. Once your mouth is thoroughly clean, you can place the aligners back in and go to bed.
When You Wake Up
In the morning you’ll want to repeat the same routine that you did the night before. Even though you didn’t eat anything throughout the night, there are still bacteria in your mouth that’ll need to be cleaned away.
Soaking Your Aligners
Despite the fact that your aligners only need to be worn for two weeks at a time, they can still turn dingy and get noticeable stain. For a deep cleaning, you can soak your trays in a bowl with a solution meant specifically for Invisalign, or one for plastic retainers. Be sure to read the instructions before purchasing just any product; since your aligners need to be worn for a minimum of 22 hours a day, you’ll need a solution that works quickly.
Where to Get Invisalign In Houston
North Houston Dentistry offers a full line of dental treatments including Invisalign and invisible ceramic braces. If you want straighter teeth and are interested in learning which orthodontic treatment is right for you, then schedule a consultation with Dr. Sasan Bastani, DDS. You deserve to have the attractive smile you’ve always wanted. Call today for a no pressure Invisalign evaluation!
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