Menu
Menu
Menu
Menu
How often do you clean Invisalign®? You might be surprised to learn that it’s not often enough.You know that eggshell-yellow shade they’ve gone? That shouldn’t be there. And the retainer smell you’ve sniffed as you place them in your mouth definitely shouldn’t be there. If you’ve tried everything and still don’t know how to remove yellow stains from your Invisalign® , we’ve got the solution.
Do you remember your first appointment to get fitted for an Invisalign® retainer? “Finally! I’m just a few adjustments away from perfect teeth”, you thought. The excitement was real, and from all accounts, the pain was only half as bad as your friend’s experience with traditional braces – a major win for you right? “This’ll be a breeze,” you imagined.
So by this point along your Invisalign® journey, you’re aware of the effort it takes to achieve the perfect smile. You’re familiar with ‘saliva sucking’ when removing your retainer, fluent in the art of covering up your ‘new-lisp’ in meetings, and know to avoid the cardinal sin of wrapping your retainer in tissue at Sunday brunch.
We’re sure you’re doing everything right by limiting your morning coffee, rinsing your retainer after every meal, and always making sure you’re following the time-frame protocol. So why on earth is your aligner (s) beginning to turn a murky shade of eggshell-yellow and smell like used dental floss?
What you may not know is that nasty bacteria called microbes can build up on your aligner(s) or retainer when not cleaned regularly. Not only is it unsightly and smelly, but can lead to an array of oral diseases. A recent study found that more than 66 percent of tested retainers contained Candida yeast, and about 50 percent of tested retainers contained Staphylococcus. It’s these sorts of microbes which can lead to infections that cause inflammation, swelling and puss-filled sores in the mouth. Pretty gross, right?
So, what can you be doing to rid your aligner(s) or retainer of this nasty bacteria build up and stay well? Start by incorporating these four tips into your ritual to keep your aligners crystal clear and squeaky clean.
If you’re a seasoned veteran when it comes to your Invisalign®, you’d know to remove your retainer before every meal. You might not realise, but well after you’ve scoffed your chicken salad, food particles can remain on your teeth and gums. So it’s important to run your mini-toothpaste and pocket toothbrush over those pearly whites in the restaurant bathroom.
Not cleaning your teeth properly before putting your retainer back in your mouth can lead to bacteria sitting in between your teeth and trays. Over time, this could lead to bad breath, tooth decay, oral diseases and discolouration to your aligners.
Ok, you can have the rainbow cake – but we can’t stress this enough, it MUST be in moderation. Eating and drinking certain foods such as red wine, coffee and tea, can stain your aligners over time, so we highly recommend steering clear of these foods to avoid discolouration and build up.
However, we’re looking on the bright side here – less rainbow cake means less time on the treadmill. Sign us up.
It’s a common misconception in the dental industry that cleaning dental appliances (like Invisalgin®) with a toothbrush and toothpaste is the right thing to do. In reality, this can have long-term detrimental effects on both your health and the appearance of your aligners.
Using toothpaste on your retainer means you’re exposing your trays to abrasive ingredients that can actually increase calculus build-up, stinky odours and the dreaded yellowy-hue over time. Plus, brushing your retainer with or without toothpaste can damage Invisalign® surfaces and cause tiny divots that hold onto bacteria and spread throughout your mouth during wear-time. So, consider using Dr Mark’s HyGenie® and Dr Mark’s DentalFresh® when cleaning your Invisalign® for a non-abrasive and hygienic clean.
Much like the toothbrush and toothpaste method, there are a range of myths out there on cleaning removable dental appliances correctly. Firstly, throw away that glass of murky soaking water and secondly, don’t even think about putting baking soda anywhere near your aligners®.
Dr Mark’s HyGenie® for Invisalign is a simple, all-in-one solution for cleaning your Invisalign® the right way. It takes less than a minute and, paired with Dr Mark’s DentalFresh paraben and alcohol-free formulation, you’ve got pH balanced and fresh feeling Invisalign to wear after every meal.
Maintaining fresh and clean Invisalign® aligners doesn’t have to be a tedious and painful process. Dr Mark’s HyGenie® is designed specifically for Invisalign to help shift stubborn stains and smells and keep your breath fresh. Shop now and get free shipping for all orders over $30.
