How to Keep Your Braces Clean

Are you just starting out with your orthodontics care and want to ensure your treatment succeeds? Keeping your braces clean is one of the most important things you can do in that regard.

Getting braces, whether traditional metal brackets and wires or more advanced options like Invisalign® aligners, is a significant change in your life. When everything is so new, there’s a lot to learn, and that’s why our caring team at Whole Body Dental goes the extra mile to educate our patients about braces care in our Bellevue, Washington, office.

In addition, we like to provide extra support to our patients through our monthly blog. For this August blog, our orthodontics specialists discuss how to keep your Invisalign aligners clean.

Before cleaning: What to know about your new aligners

At Whole Body Dental, our main orthodontics option is Invisalign. We offer Invisalign because it’s a high-tech way to straighten your teeth with no metal or wires. We use digital X-rays and the state-of-the-art ClinCheck Pro® treatment planning software to design your personalized treatment program.

Invisalign then follows our treatment plan to manufacture custom-made aligners. The aligners slot over your teeth snugly, perfectly fitting your mouth. Because aligners are completely clear, most people won’t even realize you’re wearing them.

Your aligners are made of medical-grade thermoplastic polymers. Essentially, they’re crafted from a very strong (yet highly flexible) plastic. Although the material is highly durable, incorrect cleaning methods or rough handling could still damage your aligners and derail your treatment.

Fortunately, it’s easy to care for your aligners properly, and that starts with cleaning.

Cleaning braces: How to clean your Invisalign aligners

We provide detailed instructions for how and when to wear your new aligners. In general, we recommend wearing them for 20-22 hours a day.

The only time you should remove them is for eating, brushing your teeth, and flossing. That means you need to remove your aligners and replace them multiple times per day. Tips to keep them clean include:

Rinse before replacing

Saliva and plaque can accumulate on your aligners, so we recommend rinsing your aligners with lukewarm water before replacing them in your mouth after meals. Invisalign also recommends brushing your teeth after each meal.

Deep clean daily

Rinsing your aligners helps keep saliva and plaque away, but you also need to do a deeper cleaning once a day. There are a couple of options for that. Invisalign recommends using Invisalign Cleaning Crystals, their proprietary cleaning system.

To use the system, you empty a single packet of crystals into a small tub, add warm water, and let your aligners sit for 15 minutes.

Alternatively, you can use a soft-bristle toothbrush, mild toothpaste, and slightly warm water to clean your aligners. With either option, rinse your aligners in water before placing them in your mouth.

Expert orthodontics care in Bellevue

At Whole Body Dental, our team of caring specialists wants to help you succeed in your orthodontics care. You deserve a straight smile that you feel confident about, so don’t hesitate to connect with us online or call us at 425-842-0435 when you need orthodontics or dental care of any kind.