How To Care For Your Invisalign Clear Aligners

How Invisalign works

Invisalign uses a series of custom-designed clear aligners which sit over the top of your teeth, much like a mouth guard. Each aligner is moulded from fairly soft plastic, making them very comfortable to wear.

The series of aligners is created using cutting edge mapping technology which uses images and measurements of the current position of your teeth and tracks how they need to move to correct problems with the alignment. This could be moving teeth closer together, twisting crooked teeth so that they sit flush to others, or adjusting your bite so that your teeth meet perfectly when you close them. This pattern is broken down into a series of infinitesimal movements, and an aligner is created for each stage.

When the aligner is worn it exerts gentle pressure onto the teeth, forcing them towards the more desirable position. By wearing each aligner in the correct order, the teeth are directed into the new and improved position. The entire process takes between twelve and eighteen months depending on the extent of the changes that need to take place.
 

Benefits of Invisalign aligners

There are a number of key advantages that Invisalign has over conventional orthodontic braces. These include:

• Discretion. Unlike regular braces, Invisalign aligners are transparent meaning that unless someone is looking closely, they probably won’t even realize you are wearing them.

• Comfortable. Invisalign aligners are much more comfortable than braces.

• Flexibility to eat what you want. Conventional braces have lots of brackets and wires where food particles can become stuck, causing decay and other problems. Invisalign aligners are briefly taken out for you to eat, meaning you can enjoy whatever foods you like. You just need to brush your teeth and pop your aligner back in as soon as you have finished eating.

• Fewer maintenance visits to our dentists. To move on to the next stage in your treatment program you only need to select the next liner in the series and wear it for the allotted time. Although you will still need to visit our dentist to check on the progress of your treatment, far fewer visits will be required.
   

Caring for your Invisalign aligner

Although the comfortable and removable aligner is one of the biggest advantages of the Invisalign treatment program, these clever devices still need to be looked after if they are to be effective. Regular cleaning is essential if they are to remain invisible and discreet, and this will also help them to be odorless and free from bacteria which could cause damage to your teeth.

Here are some of the key do’s and don’ts for caring for your Invisalign aligner.
 

DO…

-         Carefully rinse your aligners every time you take them out of your mouth. This will help wash away bacteria and food particles.

-         Soak your aligners in the cleansing crystals provided, ideally at least once a week. This will help keep them in great conditions.

-         When you clean your aligners, use a soft toothbrush and clear, anti-bacterial soap. Brush slowly and take care not to be too rough as this could leave scratches on your aligners.

-         Make sure you remember to brush your own teeth daily, and ideally every time you take your aligners out. It is just as important to keep your natural teeth clean and healthy as it is your aligners.

-         Use the case provided to store your aligners when you aren’t wearing them.
 

DON’T…

-         Use toothpaste to clean your aligners. Many toothpastes contain chemicals that could harm them.

-         Use scented or colored soap to clean your aligners. These could leave stains and potentially an unpleasant taste in your mouth!

-         Eat or drink anything colored while wearing your aligners. Again, these can discolour your aligners, thus eliminating their transparency.

For further guidance on caring for Invisalign aligners, contact us and speak to our knowledgeable dental team.