Throughout your Invisalign treatment, you will wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, long enough for bacteria and plaque to grow on them. Here are a few tips on how to care for your aligners and avoid bad breath.
By not caring for your Invisalign clear aligners properly you risk issues like bad breath, discolouring of the plastic aligners and even problems with your overall oral health.
To get the most out of your Invisalign treatment, and to curb mortifying bad breath, just follow these easy tips from our Delta Straight Smile dentists.
Brush and floss after eating, every time!
You could trap food particles and bacteria under the aligners if you put your aligners back in before brushing your teeth. Neglecting to brush your teeth before putting your aligners back in place after eating could cause issues with bad breath and possibly even lead to other oral health issues.
Drink water only with your aligners in.
It is always best to remove your aligners before drinking anything other than water. Drinking dark beverages such as colas or red wine can discolour the clear aligners, and hot beverages such as coffee could cause the thin aligners to warp.
Never use toothpaste to clean your aligners.
Clean your aligners with a mild, anti-bacterial soap not toothpaste. This will help to ensure that your aligners remain fresh and free of harmful bacteria that can smell bad.
Avoid smoking with your aligners in.
Chemicals in cigarettes can cause your aligners (and your teeth) to become discoloured. Your aligners might also retain some of the smell. To keep your teeth and aligners looking great, and your breath fresh, avoid smoking altogether or remove your aligners while smoking.