Can I Keep My Invisalign Trays From Staining?

There are lots of good reasons to straighten teeth with Invisalign, but one of the most alluring reasons to use invisible braces is, well, their invisibility.  It is no secret that the mouth can be a dirty place, and when you wear your trays for 22 hours a day they seem destined to become a breeding ground for plaque and decay, staining and clouding. But you want your Invisalign aligners to be clean, clear, and undetected.  You need help!

Don’t worry.  You can maintain the clarity of your aligners, and we can tell you how.

Remove

You need to wear your aligners almost all of the time, but should remove them when you eat.  Eating and drinking (anything other than water) can introduce into your mouth coloring, food, and bacteria that could get stuck between your aligners and your teeth.  The safest way to keep debris out of your Invisalign trays is to take them out of your mouth before you eat.

Rinse

Rinse your aligners with cold water.  Do not use hot water because that temperature could compromise the shape of the plastic trays.  When you rinse your aligners, you are washing away bacteria and saliva that could dry onto the removed trays.  Once dry, it is harder to remove this build-up.  The trays could start to have a foul odor and a cloudy appearance.  Once they are removed, it is best to store them in a glass of water, where they will not be exposed to air.

Brush

Like the teeth they are straightening, the aligning trays should be brushed, but without toothpaste.  Toothpaste can be abrasive to the plastic, scratching the surface.  Gently brush the trays with a soft-bristled toothbrush and cold water.  Brush the surface in an up-and-down direction so that the bristles can clean in between the areas that are molded to the teeth.

Soak

Another option is to soak your aligners in a vinegar/baking soda solution, a denture solution or a retainer solution.  Invisalign also offers a branded soaking solution for the sanitation of their trays.

There are lots of ways to keep your invisible braces clean and clear.  By employing one or all of these methods, you will keep your smile as clean and your braces as unnoticeable as possible.