{"id":16,"date":"2018-06-12T00:39:42","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T00:39:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newengland-kids.com\/blog\/?p=16"},"modified":"2018-07-12T00:47:10","modified_gmt":"2018-07-12T00:47:10","slug":"invisalign-alignment-trays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newengland-kids.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/12\/invisalign-alignment-trays\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Tips for Caring for Invisalign Alignment Trays"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"YoungOne disadvantage many patients who choose Invisalign orthodontics experience is discoloration of their alignment trays. When you wear these clear, plastic appliances for weeks at a time, they may begin to turn a yellow-orange color and they can smell bad. In this post, we\u2019ll talk about some easy ways to avoid this discoloration and odor and keep your aligners crystal clear, so you can smile confidently throughout your Invisalign<\/a> treatment plan.
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1 \u2013 Brush Your Aligner At least Twice a Day<\/h2>\n

Your aligners should be treated just like your smile. Anytime you brush your teeth, take a few moments to brush the aligners too. This should include brushing at least once in the morning and once before bed. For best results, you may want to brush teeth and alignment trays after meals as well. Take care to brush gently using toothpaste and cool water. Warm water may warp your plastic aligner tray. Following brushing, carefully examine the Invisalign tray for signs of discoloration to ensure you\u2019re cleaning thoroughly enough.<\/p>\n

2 \u2013 Soak in Cleaner During Meals<\/h2>\n

During meals, consider soaking your aligner trays in water or a mixture of water and mouth rinse. This will keep the alignment trays safe, but it will also remove plaque, bacteria, and food items before they have a chance to stick to your aligners. Plus, if you soak your Invisalign trays in mouth rinse, you\u2019ll have minty fresh breath!<\/p>\n

3 \u2013 Cleaning Your Teeth is Just as Important<\/h2>\n

If you don\u2019t take just as much if not more time to brush and floss teeth each day as you do to care for your alignment trays, you will still struggle to keep your aligner clean. Brush at least two minutes at a time at least twice a day, floss once daily, and take the time to rinse out your mouth after meals if you don\u2019t have time to brush.<\/p>\n

What NOT to Do<\/h2>\n

As important as it is to keep your aligners clean by following these oral hygiene steps, it\u2019s also essential to avoid certain habits, including:<\/p>\n