4 Tips to Help You Take Care of Your Invisalign Clear Retainers

Most people want straight, beautiful teeth, but not everyone wants to commit to wearing braces. Braces can be uncomfortable, and they're very noticeable. If you want to straighten your teeth without the pain, hassle, and look of braces, Invisalign could be the orthodontic treatment for you. Like braces, Invisalign uses tension to gradually move your teeth into a new position. However, unlike braces, Invisalign is removable which allows you to care for your teeth more easily. Here are four tips to help you maintain your Invisalign retainers:

1. Remove Invisalign carefully.

Invisalign is durable, but it can still break if you don't treat it carefully. When removing your Invisalign, make sure to use the proper technique. Use both hands to remove your Invisalign in order to distribute the pressure evenly across the retainer. Trying to take off your retainer on only one side can lead to cracks. Your Invisalign treatment is carefully calibrated to use a new retainer every two weeks. If you break your Invisalign, your treatment may take longer because you can't wear your retainer while you have a replacement created.

2. Always store Invisalign in its case.

When you're eating a snack, it can be tempting to store your retainer in a napkin. This is a bad idea for several reasons. First, your Invisalign can pick up bacteria and dust particles from the air which can make you sick. Leaving your Invisalign on a napkin also means leaving it unprotected. You or someone else could accidentally place a heavy object on your retainer, which could cause it to break. Finally, your retainer might get mistaken for trash and thrown away if it's wrapped in a napkin.

3. Brush Invisalign every day.

Just like your teeth, Invisalign can collect plaque over the course of the day. Keep your retainers clean by brushing them whenever you brush your teeth. Use your toothbrush to gently clean the inside and outside of your clear retainer, and remember to rinse it thoroughly before putting it back in your mouth.

4. Use denture cleaners once a week.

While brushing your Invisalign is enough to remove plaque and built up bacteria, you may want to occasionally deep clean your retainer to remove any cloudiness that may occur. In order to do this, you can use fizzing denture cleaner. Use the denture cleaner as directed on the package, usually by dissolving a tablet into a small amount of warm water. Place your Invisalign into the cup and let it soak overnight.


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