Cleaning your Invisalign trays, it turns out, is one of those things that seems straightforward enough but in reality raises a whole bunch of questions. When you first start treatment and wear your aligners pretty much all the time, you start thinking really carefully about what’s safe to use and what’s going to do more harm than good. A lot of people already have hydrogen peroxide knocking around at home, they know it’s used for cleaning, so it’s one of the first things that comes up in that conversation. Now we want to give you a clear and useful answer to the question that keeps coming up, can you use hydrogen peroxide to clean Invisalign in Parkland? Yes, you can, and it’s actually fairly safe, but there are a few things to bear in mind. Not all concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are okay to use, and how you use it is just as important as what you use. When our patients leave their first session at Marrecau Orthodontics, we always make sure they know the ropes when it comes to looking after their aligners. And it really does make a big difference if you get into good habits right from the start. Invisalign aligners gently move teeth into alignment without metal braces. Each Invisalign tray is clear, comfortable, and custom-made, allowing patients to remove them easily for meals or brushing. This treatment offers a discreet and effective way to achieve a confident smile.
A diluted solution is basically the best way to clean your aligners with hydrogen peroxide. If you’re careful, it’s generally okay to soak your trays in a mixture of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and lukewarm water for a short time, we’re talking anything from 15 to 30 minutes here. This can help get rid of germs and light grime that builds up on the trays throughout the day. Then just give them a good rinse with clean water before popping them back in your mouth. Invisalign Teen gives younger patients a flexible and comfortable way to straighten their teeth. The aligners are nearly invisible, easy to wear, and perfect for active teens. Invisalign Teen also includes wear indicators that help track progress throughout treatment.
Don’t even think about using a solution that’s got a lot of concentration or leave them soaking for too long. If you use too strong a solution over time it could make the plastic go cloudy, which is one of the main reasons people choose Invisalign in the first place. You need to be pretty careful when you clean the trays so they remain unobtrusive.
It’s worth noting too that hydrogen peroxide works best when it’s used in conjunction with other cleaning methods rather than being the sole approach. What we recommend is washing your aligners gently with a soft toothbrush and a dollop of clear, unscented soap at least once a day. Just be careful not to put toothpaste on them, as the gritty bits in most toothpastes can scratch the surface of the plastic. And that makes the trays look foggy and gives germs loads of surface area to hide and multiply.
Another easy thing you can do to keep your aligners clean and fresh is to rinse them with lukewarm water every time you take them out. This helps get rid of saliva and loose dirt before it has a chance to dry on the tray’s surface. Couple that with a regular cleaning schedule and your aligners will stay in good nick all the way through treatment.
We do Invisalign treatment right here in Parkland at Marrecau Orthodontics. And for us, knowing how to care for your aligners is just as important as the treatment itself. Clean aligners are more comfortable, cleaner and just better at doing what they’re meant to do. We go over all this with our patients because we really want your experience with Invisalign to be as smooth and successful as possible from start to finish. If you’ve got any more questions about how to look after your aligners or if you’re wondering if Invisalign is right for you, give us a call. We’re always happy to help you move forward with confidence.