4 Tips to Keep Your Retainer/Aligner Clean

Posted on May 1, 2018 in Dental Health

Are you new to aligners such as Invisalign or Clear Correct that help straighten your teeth without the bulk of traditional braces? The biggest question I had when starting my journey down straight-teeth lane was how to keep everything clean. Here are 4 tips on how to clean your aligner.

• Always rinse your aligners with cold water whenever you take them out. This will help remove saliva and any tricky bacteria, like the kind that causes bad breath, or plaque that may have transferred from your mouth.

o Don’t use hot water to clean your aligners, as the heat could deform or damage the plastic, undoing all of your hard work.

• Store your aligners in a cool, dry place to eliminate the possibility of further bacterial growth. You don’t want them getting dirty when they aren’t in your mouth!

o Give the container a good cleaning with soap periodically as well.

• Clean your aligners with antibacterial soap or toothpaste and a soft toothbrush after every use, gently brushing them until all of the nooks and crannies have been covered. Then rinse with cold water to wash away the debris.

o You can also soak your aligners in denture cleaner to ensure a clean and fresh orthodontic appliance. Unlike mouthwashes that can stain your aligner, which defeats the purpose of them being invisible, denture cleaners are made for this task, and they can give your aligners a fresh smell.

• Thoroughly brush and floss your teeth before putting your aligner back in your mouth. You don’t want any food debris stuck against your pearly whites because it can lead to a buildup of harmful plaque or other bacteria.

Now that you know how to clean your aligner, learn how to keep your pearly whites pristine and residue-free.