An Invisalign aligner is small but powerful. They’re discreet, comfortable, and can be taken off before eating to allow you to eat whatever you want.
However, because clear aligners are so slight, they can be damaged if you aren’t careful. That can mean you need to wait for an aligner to be replaced, which can throw your progress off track. If you’re starting Invisalign treatment, here are a few things you should avoid to ensure you don’t ruin your aligner.
Avoid Harsh Cleaners
While it’s great to make sure that your aligners are nice and clean, you shouldn’t be overzealous. You should only use cleaning products that are designed for oral appliances or have the approval of large dental organizations. Avoid household cleaners like bleach that can degrade your aligner’s plastic.
Hot water can also warp your aligners, making them nearly impossible to wear. You should especially avoid putting your aligners in boiling water or running them in the dishwasher.
Keep Aligners in Their Case
When you take out your aligners, you risk accidentally misplacing them. If you leave them on a table or in a napkin, you could accidentally throw them away without realizing it. Unless you want to fish your aligners out of the garbage, you should always put your Invisalign into their case whenever you aren’t wearing them.
Don’t Eat with Your Trays In
Your Invisalign is made of thin plastic, which is part of why they’re so discreet. However, that plastic is made to be just strong enough to push your teeth into place. Trying to eat with them in can potentially damage your aligner, causing fractures that reduce their efficacy. You should always take out your trays before you eat.
Only Drink Water with Your Aligners In
In a similar vein, you should really only be drinking room-temperature water with your aligners in. Drinks like soda, coffee, and tea can stain your teeth when they get trapped in your aligners. Extremely cold and hot drinks can also cause an aligner to warp, which is as uncomfortable as it sounds.
Your aligners aren’t so vulnerable that you need to constantly worry about them, but by keeping these things in mind, you can be positive that you won’t need to replace them.
About Our Practice
At Gentle Dentistry Sparta, we want to exceed your expectations of what dentistry is supposed to be. Our dentists are experts who have a strong understanding of what it takes to build a perfect smile, and a mastery of the latest technologies in oral medicine. On top of all that, we take the time to treat our patients with respect.
If you have any questions about how to properly take care of your Invisalign aligners, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (973) 729-9044.