How Does One Clean Invisalign?

Hello there,The easiest and best way to clean your clear aligner is to take them off and brush them (on the inside and the outside) each time you brush your teeth.  When finished, rinse them with water and place back into your mouth.  Yes, it is really this simple.Good luck with everything.

I have found through patient feedback and clinical reports that the best way to keep the aligners clean from bacteria, viruses and fungi is with the use of a product called OAP Cleaner. OAP provides instant cleaning of Invisalign and it takes only 60 seconds to use. The carefully formulated, proprietary cleaning solution is effective at cleaning and sanitizing all types of orthodontic appliances. It has clinically been shown to kill 99.99% of all viruses, bacteria, fungi and germs on contact. It also removes stains, plaque and offensive odors. The use of a brush to scrub and rid these critters and plaque off of your alignerstogether with OAP to sanitize and clean your aligner is the way to go.OAP is BPA, persulfate and chlorine-free, and is completely safe to use on Invisalign, as well as Invisalign storage containers. It is a gentle and mild cleaning agent that won’t cause discoloration of the plastic or result in abrasion of any surface material.

Invisalign trays are clear so you can easily see any food or discoloration. This allows the trays to be easily cleaned because you always know if you have more work to do.
I recommend using a toothbrush with water and making sure you clean ALL of the nooks and crannies. Remember, your teeth have hills and valleys which come together to allow you to chew. Your aligners have all of these same hills and valleys, as the trays are manufactured specifically for your teeth down to the slightest detail. This means that you should get in there and clean every aspect, or the trays will gradually start to discolor, making them more noticeably to friends and peers. Simply cleaning them with a toothbrush and water - but being meticulous while doing so - can make them spotless and remain spotless. 
I do not recommend using toothpaste when cleaning the trays, because toothpaste has tiny abrasives, which over time can make the trays appear less pristine and clear. Excessively brushing the trays with toothpaste can actually give the trays a more "cloudy" look - making the trays more noticeable.

Cleaning Invisalign aligners is very simple. Every time you brush your teeth, you should gently brush your aligners (on the inside and outside) and rinse them in lukewarm water. You can also soak them in a denture cleaner, or with Invisalign cleaning crystals while you are eating. Most importantly, make sure you brush and floss after each meal, so that food and saliva doesn't get trapped in the aligners and soak into your teeth.

We recommend that our patients brush their Invisalign with their tooth brush and soap and water. We also give them Invisalign Crystals to put in a cup with water (enough water to subdue your retainers) with a pack of the crystals. Invisalign recommend that you leave your aligners in there for 15 minutes for optimal results! 

The best way to clean the aligners is with soap, water, and a toothbrush. As many have already mentioned, toothbrush is on the more abrasive side and can scratch and dull the aligners. The Vivera retainers usually come with special invisalign-brand crystals that you put in water and allow the aligners to soak in but throughout treatment, you change the aligners every week so you really shouldn't need those crystals. If you have retainers or aligners for a long period of time, you can also use effervescent denture tablets for a 30-60 minute soak and then clean with soap and water. 

I recommend my patients to gently brush their the inside and outside of their aligners with toothbrush nefiew they place them back onto their teeth. Toothpaste isn’t necessary as that can cause abrasion to the aligner material. To have that fresh minty breath taste and feel, simply brush your teeth before your place your aligners back onto your teeth. Place the toothpaste on your teeth not on your aligners. I also had patients soak their aligners in Listerine for a minute or two, that’s OK. You’ll be replacing these aligner every two weeks so by the time their yellowing, it’s time for a new clear ones. Just don’t brush them hard. Sonicare Diamondclean can be very helpful in cleaning these aligners.

I recommend just using toothbrush and tooth paste to clean aligners.  In my office my patients change aligners weekly that allows patients to get new aligners every week before they get too old looking.   However there are few patients that are prone to have more plaque and they find some deposits on the aligner despite the brushing, in these cases I recommend soaking them in retainer/aligner cleaners  as needed.

I instruct patients to use a toothbrush and gently brush the aligners along with soaking in hydrogen peroxide. Our patients are instructed to change them weekly which prevents severe discoloration.  The hydrogen peroxide will help to keep then whiter and brighter.

Most patients find that brushing the Invisalign trays with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste is sufficient to keep them clean. Always be sure to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly before replacing the aligner trays in your mouth, to avoid trapping bacteria and food particles.