Congratulations on starting your Invisalign journey; follow these simple instructions and care guide to get the most out of your treatment!
Maintaining your Invisalign aligners with Daily Care
1. It's important to wear your trays for 22hrs/per day to realize all the expressed movement needed to realign your teeth. You will need to remove the trays for brushing, flossing, eating and drinking liquids other than water.
2. Either in the morning or at night, clean your trays with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of water. Some people find it easier to brush their trays while they are still on their teeth and then remove the trays to clean the inside surfaces. Dishwashers can damage both aligners and the cases they are stored in. The high heat will deform the plastic and render the trays unusable.
3. Harsh chemicals (bleach), denture cleaners and mouthwash should NOT be used to clean aligners. These solutions will damage the surface of aligners and cause dullness making them more visible. Very HOT water will also cause deformation of the aligner material, which is why it's recommended to use Lukewarm water for cleaning and rinsing.
You can use Polident retainer cleaning tablets, available at any pharmacy, to clean your aligners more effectively.
4. A little known fact is that one's own saliva can turn trays yellow. That's why it is important to rinse your trays with water every time you remove them from your mouth.
5. Vaping, smoking or using chewing tobacco will cause your aligners to damage or discolour.
6. The ideal time to change from one tray to the next is after your last meal and before bedtime. This allows for a long uninterrupted time for your new trays to do their magic. Some people experience mild discomfort with their first trays during their first 48 hours of wearing them. We recommend using Advil to manage any minor discomfort.
7. Each aligner has an "L" for lower and "U" for upper engraved on the trays, followed by the current stage number. If you mix up your trays, you can search for this engraved number to make sure you are wearing the correct aligners at the right time.
You can insert either the lower or upper aligner first. Start by placing the aligner over your front teeth and then gently pushing down on the back teeth. Apply equal pressure on the back of the trays, near your molars, until they snap into place.
Try not to bite into the aligners to push them onto your teeth, an incorrect position could cause fracture or damage to the tray material.
8. Most people will get very comfortable taking trays in and out of their mouths after a couple of weeks. It can take a little longer for some people, especially those with mixed dentition, but eventually it does become second nature. When removing aligners, it's equally important to do it slowly in a controlled manner. Try to avoid removing the trays all at once; instead try to start at the back at one end and move your way around the mouth.
9. Often, we will provide patients with Chewies, also known as tray seaters, to help seat the trays fully on their teeth. These chewies keep your trays fitting snuggly and promote blood flow around the roots that help teeth move more quickly into new positions. Chewy use is the most important in the first 48 hours after starting a new tray.
My Aligners Are Turning Yellow?
Many foods can stain Invisalign aligners and cause them to start turning a yellowish shade. These can include dark beverages like coffee, tea and wine or foods like chocolate or berries. Unfortunately, stains on your aligners can form even if these beverages or foods are not consumed because your own saliva can also stain the trays. That's why it's important to rinse the trays and your mouth with water when removing trays.
Heavy Stains - Hydrogen Peroxide
Mixing a 1/2 cup of water and a 1/2 cup of Hydrogen peroxide with two teaspoons of baking soda will help remove heavy stains. Depending on how severe the staining is, it may take a few hours for the stain on the trays to come off completely.
Vinegar for Light Stains
If the amount of staining is light, and the Polident retainer tab is not removing the stain, you can also create a solution by mixing one part vinegar with three parts water. Soak the trays for approximately 20 minutes before removing, brushing and rinsing with water.
Prevention is the best way to keep stains off of aligners and your teeth.
Poor oral hygiene and/or highly staining food and liquids with trays in are definite factors that will lead to your trays staining. Sometimes the stain cannot be removed even with the above methods. That's why it's always best to prevent stains from forming in the first place. Unlike traditional braces, the big benefit of Invisalign is that you still can brush and floss regularly.
10. If you lose or break your aligners, please be aware that we have a $75 replacement fee. Please call the office if you lose your trays so we can order new aligners if required. Always keep your previous aligners so that if you lose a set, you can go back to your previous set to prevent tooth movement while we wait for your new trays. Sometimes if you were just a day or two from your next trays, we might recommend you move on early to the next set of aligners.
To prevent losing your aligners, we recommend using the provided case if you need to remove them from your mouth for any reason.
11. If you don't wear your trays regularly and they no longer fit, you may be charged a fee if a new set of impressions are required for new trays.
Can I have a really hot or cold drink while wearing Invisalign?
It's best to stick just tepid water, but if you plan to drink anything else with Invisalign trays in, it's best just to take out the aligners
What if I notice a broken attachment
If you notice a button is lost or broken, please call our office, and we'll let you know if we need a follow-up appointment.
