Written by Dr. Febin Mary George, BDS | Medically Reviewed by Dr. Zein El Hammouz, DDS, MFD/RCSI.
1. Removing Your Clear Aligners
1.1. When should you remove your aligners?
1.2 Eating out with aligners
1.3 How to remove aligners?
2. Storing Your Aligners
2.1 Can you leave your aligners in water?
2.2. How do you preserve invisible aligners?
3. Cleaning Your Invisible Aligners
3.1. How to clean your aligners?
4. FAQ’s
Clear aligners are appliances that gently correct the alignment of your teeth. They fix misaligned or crooked teeth without the hassle of metal wires or hooks.
Here are a few simple tips to help you take care of your clear aligners and keep them clean:
You should wear your clear aligners for at least 22 hours a day and remove them only in certain cases, such as: (1).
Before brushing
You can remove your aligners before brushing your teeth. Once the aligners are removed, you can brush and floss as you normally would.
Before eating and drinking
Clear aligners are appliances made of strong and flexible material. However, they are not strong enough to withstand your chewing forces. Hence, you must remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything other than plain water. Undue forces can break the aligners and interrupt the progress of your treatment.
Here are some tips on how to take care of aligners and stay prepared when eating out:
You can easily remove clear aligners without the assistance of a dentist. The key is to master the proper removal technique so that you do not break or deform your aligners every time you remove them.
Here are some tips you can follow to remove your aligners easily:
You may need an aligner removal tool in the initial days of your treatment when you are still figuring out how to wear and remove your aligners. Additionally, aligner removal tools are helpful if your aligners have attachments. You will not need them once you have mastered how to remove them.
You can take your aligners out before eating or brushing your teeth, on average 3 or 4 times a day.
Make sure to store your clear aligners in a clean and dry protective case with vent holes for air drying. Keep the storage case on a top shelf or at a height, so it remains protected from children and pets.
No. You should not leave your aligners in water as their physical properties can change, resulting in unnecessary damage.
Here are a few quick tips for keeping your invisible aligners clean :
The best way to clean your aligners is using effervescent cleaning tablets and a soft toothbrush. (3) Dip your aligners in a solution formed by mixing 1-2 cleaning tablets in a bowl of water. Soak the aligners in this solution as per the manufacturer’s instructions ( fifteen to twenty minutes), then rinse with water before popping them back in. Alternatively, you can use a soft toothbrush to clean your invisible aligners under running water.
FAQS
References