Tips for Taking Care of Your Invisalign Trays

Your Invisalign® aligners, also called trays, are an incredible option for straightening teeth. Why? Because the Invisalign trays don’t bring the pain, difficulty, and unappealing look of braces. To keep these highly sophisticated and sensitive aligners doing their best job, you need to follow some basic maintenance steps. 

Drs. Mahvash Zulfaghary and Zehra Asad invite you to visit our Fulton, Maryland, dental practice, Allure Dental Care of Maple Lawn. At Allure Dental Care, we provide plenty of options for cosmetic dentistry as well as the opportunity to learn more about your oral health and how to maintain it. 

For example, note these ways to keep Invisalign trays in top shape.

First, avoid eating with your trays in

We always recommend that you avoid eating while you’re wearing your dental aligners. Biting down on something hard, or even something soft, can lead to serious problems, such as warped or cracked trays. Bacteria can also easily get inside the trays if you eat with them on, and bacteria can potentially lead to gingivitis. 

The same goes for beverages. You shouldn’t drink anything except water while wearing your aligners. Heading the list of no-no drinks are those that can stain your trays: coffee, soda, tea, etc. Also, avoid drinking anything hot.

Clean your trays thoroughly

You should clean your trays every time you brush your teeth, which, if you really want to be thorough, should be every time you eat. Still, if you want to stick with the twice-a-day method, that’s fine, as long as you completely clean your trays every time.

Brush your aligners with antibacterial soap and a toothbrush. Use lukewarm water to rinse off your aligner first and then brush its inside and outside surfaces. Rinse your tray again after brushing, and check for calcium buildup. If you notice any, try soaking the tray in the proper cleaning solution.

Wear your trays as much as possible

You should be wearing each tray for 20-22 hours a day. So, yes, that means wearing it while sleeping, showering, and basically doing anything except eating or drinking liquids other than water. This helps you take care of your trays because you always know where they are. 

When you do take your aligner out, however, make sure to put it in its case. This will help you avoid losing it as well as other possible problems. We’ve seen more than a few trays get damaged because they were simply allowed to rest on the bathroom sink!

Stick to your appointments to receive new trays

It can be tempting to skip a doctors’ appointment every once in a while, but doing so too often can mean you don’t get the new trays you need. Visit us at Allure Dental Care of Maple Lawn at least every 6-8 weeks to get your new trays as prescribed. 

Remember, you should always be on top of obtaining and wearing your new trays as scheduled, or they won’t be able to do their job properly.

Want to learn more about Invisalign trays?

Or, do you have a question about your trays and want Drs. Zulfaghary and Asad to take a look? We’re happy to set you up with an appointment at our Fulton, Maryland, office today. Just call 240-394-1241 or book an appointment online at your leisure.