How can you take care of your aligners?

Having a stunning grin is the pinnacle of happiness. The most common method to correct misaligned or crowded teeth is by using braces. Depending on your specific problems and how closely you implement our orthodontist's directions, you may need to undergo treatment for anywhere from a year and a half to three years.

If you're self-conscious about how your braces will look, detachable (invisible) clear aligners may be the way to go. Clear aligners are so discreet that even people who aren't familiar with orthodontics might not notice that you're getting treatment.

Taking care of your aligners will keep them in top shape for longer and reduce the risk of any health issues. Here are the five best practises for maintaining your aligners when you take them out of your mouth.

• First, you should always rinse your aligners after taking them out.
Wearing clear aligners requires you to take them out every time you eat. Give them a quick rinse after using them. Don't put off rinsing because there's always a chance you'll forget. What makes rinsing so important?

Each time you put on your aligners, you run the risk of transferring bacteria from your mouth onto the devices. Keeping the aligners clean each time you take them out will reduce the likelihood that bacteria will grow on them.

• Use only tepid water for cleaning your clear aligners.
When the temperature changes, plastics can expand or contract. When washing your detachable clear aligners, avoid extremes of temperature. Lukewarm, or ambient temperature, water is what we suggest. Our orthodontic team can advise you on the best product to use for cleaning your teeth.

• Third, always clean your teeth before going to bed by brushing and flossing.
The bacteria in your mouth has already been mentioned. These bacteria quickly repopulate after brushing and flossing. For this reason, your breath will be fresh right after you brush your teeth, but it will fade as time passes.

Therefore, prior to donning your clear aligners, you should clean your teeth thoroughly by brushing and flossing. The lack of dental problems associated with poor oral hygiene can be avoided, and your fresh breath and healthy teeth will be preserved for longer.

4. Don't use toothpaste on your clear aligners.
If you wear clear aligners, you should avoid using toothpaste because it can scratch the plastic.

Using toothpaste can scrape the aligners' matte finish, causing them to feel rough and painful in the mouth. It can also cause internal scratches that provide additional hiding places for bacteria within the aligners. While cleaning your aligners with toothpaste might appear to be a straightforward and quick solution, there are alternatives to choose from.

Quickly and safely cleaning your mouth is possible with the help of a mouthwash that has been approved for use by our orthodontic expert.

5. Five, avoid drinking coloured beverages
Avoid drinking coloured beverages because the dyes in the additives can discolour your aligners. After removing your clear aligners, you can safely drink coloured beverages such as juices, flavoured waters, and sodas. We recommend getting the OK from our resident orthodontist before trying anything new in your mouth.