When you have just gotten your brand-new invisible aligners, you will be over the moon at starting your dental realignment journey with a tool that is invisible and simple to care for, especially when compared to traditional braces.
This does not mean, however, that you can simply wear your aligners as needed and then toss them aside. For this orthodontic tool to work as needed, you need to look after them appropriately. Just because they are removable, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to look after them and to check that they are in good condition throughout the treatment.
How do you do that? Here, you will be shown simple tips on appropriately looking after your brand-new aligners and getting the straighter smile you deserve.
Clean Them Every Day
Firstly, you need to clean them every single day. This will help to remove any food debris that is trapped within them and will also keep them looking as clear as possible.
You can easily clean your aligners while you are brushing your teeth by rinsing them under a cold-water tap. Do not use hot water, as this may cause them to warp out of shape. Many people opt for using a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste to clean their aligners, but you can opt for cleaning gels and solutions to soak them in every day. If you need tips on how to care for your aligners, head to directdental.co.uk for more advice.
Remove Them As Needed
To ensure that your aligners retain the shape that they have, you need to remove them as instructed. This will be when you eat food, brush your teeth, or drink anything besides water. You don’t want to be chewing on something hard while wearing the aligners, as this can cause the plastic to bend out of shape, making the aligner useless and potentially leading to further misalignment issues. Removing them when eating and drinking also prevents them from becoming stained, especially if you drink coffee or red wine regularly.
Store Them Correctly
When you get your aligners, they will come with a small case to store them in when they are not in your mouth. Make sure that they are in this case if you are not wearing them as the last thing you want to do is toss your aligners into your pocket or your bag, which can cause them to become bent or damaged. The cases that come with invisible aligners are specifically designed to keep them at a set temperature and to protect them from external debris, which can scratch or dent the plastic.
Use Appropriate Cleaning Gels
Going back to cleaning for a moment, many people presume that you can simply soak your aligners in any solution you want. As mentioned before, there are specific solutions designed for aligners, but make sure you use the appropriate ones. There have been instances of people rinsing or soaking their aligners in solutions for dentures, and then the aligners have become exceedingly floppy, rendering them useless, meaning that the patient has had to spend more money on getting a replacement aligner. Make sure that any cleaners you use are appropriate for use with invisible aligners and will not cause warping or staining.
