How to care for your Invisalign aligners

Like brushing your teeth, looking after your Invisalign aligners is essential for your oral health and for a straight-forward, successful journey to a straight smile.

Remove your aligners before eating and drinking

Food particles can get stuck in your trays and cling to them, which can cause plaque and tartar build-up. With drinking, the general rule is to only drink room-temperature water when you have your aligners in. If you fancy a glass of wine, a cuppa etc, always take your aligners out before drinking. Hot beverages can warp the plastic, pigmented drinks can stain your aligners, defeating the purpose of wearing a clear aligner, and sugary drinks can provide a breeding space for bacteria.

Keep your aligners in their case

Avoid accidentally throwing away your aligners that you wrapped up in a tissue (yes happens very often!) and place them in their case when you’re not wearing them to protect them from the bin and bacteria.

Clean your trays when removed

Rinsing and soaking them in water won’t prevent bacteria from building up. Instead, use denture cleaner or Invisalign cleaning crystals to prevent bacteria building up. Make sure to avoid using hot water when cleaning as this will warp the plastic and affect the fit of your aligners.

Clean your teeth before popping aligners in

When wearing Invisalign trays, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene. Make sure to brush and floss your teeth after meals, before you put your trays back in to ensure you prevent plaque and tartar build up and to keep your aligners clear.

Soak them

Soaking your aligners will disinfect them from bacteria and can help prevent stains, debris, plaque, and odour.

What to do if you’ve lost or broken your aligner

Contact us straight away and we might advise you to either go back to your previous aligner or to start wearing your next aligner in the sequence.