How to look after your clear aligners

Keep them nice and clean –

Because you’ll be wearing your aligners for 20 or more hours a day, you’ll want to keep them clean. Clean your aligners twice a day, at the same time you brush your teeth, to keep them dazzling and fresh. Brush the aligners with a gentle toothbrush after cleaning them with a denture cleaner or a home solution. Before putting them back in your mouth, remember to rinse them with lukewarm water.

Remove them when eating and snacking –

Food is a primary cause of tooth stains, and it can also stain your aligners. Furthermore, your aligners aren’t built to tolerate chewing forces. If you wear them while eating, you risk damaging their shape and making them less efficient at straightening your teeth. You can also scrape and discolour them, making them far more obvious when you’re wearing them. Always remove your aligners before you begin eating. In addition, if you consume anything with a dark pigment, such as coffee, tea, or some dark fruit drinks, you should remove your aligners to avoid staining them.

Rinse them regularly –

When you remove your aligners for meals, it’s a good time to give them a short rinse. Run them under cool running water or spritz them with a water bottle to remove plaque and bacteria and to give them a basic clean.

Use a protective case when not wearing them –

You must wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day for them to be successful. When you do take them out for meals and snacks, though, you must protect them. Sure, it’s tempting to slip them into your pocket or wrap them up in a tissue. However, this means they can be damaged, bent, or scratched, none of which is desirable. Carry the case with you at all times, and you’ll always have a safe place to store your aligners when they’re not in use.

What to drink when having them in –

Basically, the only answer is water. Not only does drinking water help protect your aligners and teeth, but it also helps you achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time. So, avoid wines, fizzy drinks, juices, and even flavoured water!