As you align your smile, it is very important that you care of the appliance that is shifting and moving your pearly whites. That way, you won’t have any treatment delays and you will have the smile of your dreams in no time!

To help you care for your Invisalign aligners, we strongly recommend doing the following things:

No. 1: Don’t eat or drink
Whenever you eat a meal or drink a drink other than water, it’s best to take the aligner out of your mouth. Doing so will keep the sugar, bacteria, and food particles out of the appliance and away from your teeth. This will help limit the growth of plaque and tooth decay.

No. 2: Clean your aligner
Your aligners collect bacteria and plaque throughout the day, which is why it is very important to clean your appliance every time you clean your smile. Make sure you wash it with the cleaning kit or with the specific cleaning solution your orthodontist suggests. Please do not use mouthwash. If you do, it is likely that the wash will tint or stain your aligner, no longer making it invisible.

No. 3: Store the aligner properly
Every time you take the aligner off your smile, it’s important that you put it in its case and you store it in a cool environment. It is also best if you keep it in a place that is memorable so you don’t lose it, and make sure it is out of the reach of children and pets.

No. 4: Don’t chew gum
Do not chew gum while the aligner is in your mouth. Doing so will severely damage the appliance.

If you do these four things, your aligner will remain in top-tip condition and it will continue to properly align your smile. If you have any questions or if you would like more tips on how to care for and clean your aligner, we invite you to call our office today and talk to a member of our wonderful orthodontic team. We are here to help you in any way we can, and we are thrilled to give you the answers you need to successfully achieve your perfect smile. We look forward to talking with you!