Invisible braces or clear aligners have become a popular and discreet way to straighten teeth, but they require proper care to maintain their appearance and effectiveness. One common concern among aligner users is discoloration and damage, which can occur from food, drink, or improper cleaning habits. Not only can stains affect the look of your aligners, but they can also harbour bacteria, compromising your oral hygiene. Additionally, damage to your aligners can lead to discomfort and potentially hinders your treatment progress, causing delays.1,2
In this blog, we’ll explore effective tips and practices to help you keep your aligners clean, stain-free and effective throughout your treatment.
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Proper Cleaning Techniques for Clear Aligners and the Role of Oral Hygiene
Clear aligners can trap bacteria and plaque, leading to oral health issues like cavities, gum disease, and infections. Simple techniques for cleaning your aligners include:3,4
- Rinsing your Aligners: When you remove your aligners during your meals, it is recommended that you rinse your aligners with lukewarm water before wearing them again. This helps remove saliva, food particles, and bacteria that may accumulate inside.
- Brushing with Toothpaste: Use a soft toothbrush with mild toothpaste once or twice daily to scrub off surface debris. However, it’s important to use non-abrasive toothpaste since harsh ones can scratch the plastic of the aligners, leading to discoloration or damage.
- Soaking: After brushing your aligners, soaking them in an effervescent cleaner or a solution like chlorhexidine can provide an extra level of disinfection. This combination helps ensure that your aligners are both physically cleaned and chemically sanitized.
- Proper Storage: When not wearing your aligners, store them in their case to prevent exposure to dust, dirt, or accidental damage. Avoid placing your aligners on napkins, pockets, or a purse as they can be easily misplaced.
- Avoid Hot Water: Never soak or rinse your aligners with hot water, as high temperatures can distort or warp the plastic material.
Taking good care of your invisible braces and keeping your teeth clean will ensure the best results from your treatment.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid while Wearing Aligners
While the best practice is to remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water, it is important to understand which foods and beverages pose the most risk
- Chewy Foods: Chewy foods such as chewing gum, caramel-based foods, etc can stick to the aligners, making it difficult to remove and clean them properly.
- Hard and Crunchy Foods: Nuts and certain raw vegetables can put a strain on your aligners and teeth, potentially leading to breakage or discomfort.
- Cookies, crackers, and certain breads: These foods produce a lot of crumbs, which can be difficult to remove from aligners. The accumulation of these crumbs may lead to residue buildup and discomfort when eating with aligners in place.
- Hot Drinks: The fit and efficacy of your aligners may be compromised if the plastic material becomes warped by hot liquids.
- Staining Drinks (coffee, tea, red wine, etc): These drinks can stain the aligners, making them more visible and reducing their aesthetic appeal. To avoid these effects, brush your teeth afterward to avoid stains.
- Sugary Foods: Avoid sugary drinks and foods while wearing aligners, as they can contribute to plaque buildup, cavities, and staining, potentially affecting both your oral health and the effectiveness of the treatment.
Hence, avoiding these foods and drinks while wearing your invisible braces is key to ensuring a smooth and effective orthodontic experience.5
Smoking and Aligners – Impact and Management
Smoking can negatively affect both the appearance of your clear aligners and the effectiveness of your treatment. This includes:6
- Staining: Smoking causes the nicotine and tar in cigarettes to stain your aligners, making them look yellow and dirty. This can make your aligners more noticeable.
- Delayed Treatment: Smoking may lead to gum disease or bone loss and delays healing, both of which can make the treatment less effective and affect its progress.
To minimize the impact of smoking on your aligners, you can follow these tips:6
- Cut Back or Quit: Reducing smoking or quitting entirely is the best way to protect your treatment and oral health.
- Remove Aligners While Smoking: If you choose to smoke, always take your aligners out before smoking to avoid stains. Clean them afterward.
- Maintain Oral Hygiene: Smoking increases plaque and tartar buildup, so brush your teeth and clean your aligners regularly.
- Regular Dentist Visits: Smokers should visit the dentist more often to monitor gum and teeth health and keep treatment on track.
By managing these risks, you can help maintain your aligner treatment and protect your overall oral health.6
Conclusion
To keep clear aligners stain-free and effective, it’s important to clean them regularly with gentle brushing and soaking, avoid foods and drinks that cause discoloration, handle them safely and remove them when smoking. Maintaining good oral hygiene and storing aligners properly also play a key role. By following these simple practices, you can ensure your aligners stay clear and hygienic, and your treatment progresses smoothly, leading to a successful orthodontic outcome. Start your aligner journey with affordable invisible braces prices at makeO Toothsi today and enjoy a confident smile with ease.
