Cleaning aligner braces: How to keep the clear braces like new

23 Jan 2023 5 min read No comments Invisible Braces

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Cleaning aligner – the right way to do it. Here you will find step-by-step instructions and many tips on how to clean the aligners properly.

With the start of aligner treatment, the invisible braces become your constant companion. Because when you’re not wearing them, you’ll be spending several minutes a day cleaning and caring for them, as well as inserting and removing them.

Get 150 € discount on your dental correction!
Woman holding aligner and smiling with thumbs up

Book a consultation appointment now at a nearby DrSmile partner practice and find out if teeth straightening with aligners is right for you.

The appointment is completely non-binding and does not involve any costs.

With the code “THATSMILE150” you will receive 150 € discount on the treatment.

To ensure that the delicate alignernot only remain intact but also completely transparent, thorough care is an absolute must.

Here we reveal all the important tips and tricks for cleaning Thama aligner. Read on now to learn how to keep your clear braces invisible.

Cleaning aligner aligner: Young woman cleans aligner with toothbrush

It starts with the right oral hygiene

Let’s start from the beginning at this point. Thorough oral hygiene is essential to ensure that your teeth are not damaged in the course of the dental correction.

Thorough brushing – and at least twice a day – is an absolute must. If you want to replace your alignerafter eating or consuming staining beverages, you should also make sure that there are as few bacteria as possible in the oral cavity.

Ideally, a toothbrush – or at least mouthwash – should become your faithful companion from now on. In the morning and evening, a routine of mouth rinse, brushing and flossing or oral irrigating the interdental spaces is ideal.

Tip: If your mouthwash does not contain fluoride, you should always use it before brushing your teeth. This prevents the fluoride that has been painstakingly brushed on with the toothpaste from being washed off again.

Cleaning the aligner splints: Correct insertion and removal

First things first: To ensure the success of your treatment, you must wear your aligners regularly and strictly according to instructions. After cleaning the invisible braces, you should therefore put them back in directly.

Also, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before inserting or removing your aligners.

Inserting aligners correctly

To insert them, carefully remove them from the Aligner Case with clean hands. Each splint should be used individually.

First insert the invisible braces on one side. Then press gently on the anterior teeth and then on the other side.

You can then press the complete aligner on again completely and check with your fingers that it fits correctly.

Under no circumstances should you try to align your aligners correctly by clenching your teeth. Because too much pressure can damage them.

Get 150 € discount on your dental correction!
Woman holding aligner and smiling with thumbs up

Book a consultation appointment now at a nearby DrSmile partner practice and find out if teeth straightening with aligners is right for you.

The appointment is completely non-binding and does not involve any costs.

With the code “THATSMILE150” you will receive 150 € discount on the treatment.

Remove aligner correctly

As already mentioned, aligners should only be removed for eating and daily dental care.

You should also remove them only with washed hands and fingertips. Under no circumstances should pointed or sharp objects be used.

Immediately after removing them, you can rinse the invisible braces with water. Make sure that the water is not too hot – this could damage the delicate aligners.

After cleaning, the clear alignerare ideally stored in the clean Aligner Case until you replace them.

Clean the aligner: Aligners are rinsed with water

Cleaning invisible braces: How to keep aligners like new

For simple daily cleaning, all you need is some clear dishwashing liquid, soap or toothpaste, lukewarm water and a soft toothbrush if necessary.

The latter should be used exclusively for cleaningaligner and not additionally for daily tooth brushing.

A brief guide to cleaningaligner in 4 easy steps:

  • Soap your aligners with dishwashing liquid or coat them with a thin layer of toothpaste.
  • Clean the dental trays between your fingers or brush them with a toothbrush.
  • Rinse the aligners thoroughly.
  • For more intensive cleaning, you can also put some dishwashing liquid in a jar and let the clear braces soak in it for a few minutes.

You can find more tips about cleaningaligner in this video:

What you should avoid when cleaning braces

There are countless tips and tricks on the Internet on the subject of cleaning aligner. However, some of them are rather useless or can even harm the delicate aligners.

Caution is advised, especially with home remedies such as baking soda, baking powder or vinegar. The same applies to unsuitable cleaning solutions or denture cleaning tablets.

All of the above products can roughen the delicate material and tarnish the plastic. As a result, the aligners gradually lose their translucency and eventually become visible on the teeth.

How often should you clean your invisible aligner?

How often you should clean your invisible aligner depends, of course, on how often you take it out during the day.

Because basically it is important that it is rinsed once briefly with water after each removal to avoid bacteria accumulation.

In addition, the aligners should be cleaned thoroughly with rinsing agent or toothpaste in the morning and evening.

Important to know: All the tips in this article also apply to removable retainers once treatment is complete.

Get 150 € discount on your dental correction!
Woman holding aligner and smiling with thumbs up

Book a consultation appointment now at a nearby DrSmile partner practice and find out if teeth straightening with aligners is right for you.

The appointment is completely non-binding and does not involve any costs.

With the code “THATSMILE150” you will receive 150 € discount on the treatment.

FAQs on the topic of cleaning aligner

Finally, we answer a few frequently asked questions about cleaning aligner.

How can discoloration of alignerbe avoided?

You should refrain from consuming coffee, tea and nicotine while wearing the invisible aligner. However, discoloration can also be caused by acidic foods and fruit juices. The latter can even damage the sensitive material.

How can I clean discolored aligner?

Yellowed or otherwise discolored alignercan be lightened in some cases by thorough cleaning with toothpaste, soap or detergent and a soft toothbrush. If whitening is not possible, the invisible braces must be replaced.

What can I do if my invisible aligner smells bad?

If your invisible aligners smell unpleasant, you can soak them in chamomile tea for a few minutes. However, make sure that the tea has already cooled down and that the aligners do not remain in the liquid for too long.

Cleaning aligner aligner: Young woman cleans aligner with toothbrush
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