With Invisalign clear aligners, maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for keeping your teeth healthy and your aligners clean. Most orthodontists recommend brushing after every meal and snack when wearing Invisalign. This helps prevent cavities, plaque buildup, staining and odors. Brushing regularly also helps keep aligners fitting properly and moving teeth effectively. Here’s a more detailed look at how often and thoroughly you should brush while using Invisalign.
Brush after every meal or snack
The most common recommendation is to brush after every time you eat or drink anything other than water. So if you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and have snacks in between, you’d brush about 5 times per day or more. This ensures you’re starting with a clean mouth each time you put your aligners back in. Food and beverages can leave behind sugars, acids and particles that promote bacteria growth, so brushing prevents these from sitting on your teeth and getting trapped under aligners.
Brush thoroughly
In addition to brushing more frequently with Invisalign, you should brush thoroughly each time for 2 to 3 minutes. Be sure to brush:
- All inner, outer and chewing surfaces of both upper and lower teeth
- Along the gumlines to remove plaque buildup
- On and around attachments or buttons on your teeth
- On the aligners themselves to prevent odor and buildup
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Take your time to gently brush all tooth surfaces until they feel smooth and clean. Avoid scrubbing too aggressively on your teeth or aligners.
Clean aligners regularly
In addition to brushing your teeth, you also need to clean the Invisalign aligners themselves. Each time you brush, take a few extra minutes to:
- Gently brush aligners inside and out with toothpaste and water.
- Rinse well with water to remove any soap, toothpaste or cleaning residue.
- Soak aligners in denture cleaner or a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water for 30 minutes to disinfect.
This helps prevent odor, staining and buildup on aligners that can affect comfort and fit. Keeping aligners clean is also important for optimal movement of teeth.
Use an aligner spray daily
Spritzing your aligners with a cleaning spray is another easy way to keep them fresh between brushings. Look for sprays made specifically for Invisalign that are alcohol-free. Use them as needed when putting aligners back in to freshen breath and kill germs.
Brush after consuming problematic foods and drinks
In addition to brushing after every meal or snack, also brush after consuming foods or drinks that are more prone to stick to teeth and aligners. These include:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red wine
- Curries or tomato-based sauces
- Berries
- Soy sauce
- Balsamic vinegar
- Dark sodas or juices
The pigments in these foods and drinks can more easily stain teeth and plastic aligners. Brushing promptly helps remove some of the staining. But to be safe, it’s best to avoid or limit staining culprits when using Invisalign.
Brush before putting aligners back in
Always brush before inserting your aligners again, even if you already brushed before eating. This ensures no food particles or sugars are present to interact with your teeth under the aligners. Brush thoroughly as described above, rinse your mouth, then insert and adjust the aligners back over clean teeth.
Brush before and after removal at night
Get into the habit of brushing every night before removing aligners to sleep. Saliva pools under the aligners during the day, allowing bacteria to grow. So brushing at night cleans this away before removal.
You should also brush again after removing aligners and before going to bed. This protects your teeth overnight while aligners are out. Be sure to brush well along the gumlines and on all surfaces of the teeth.
Clean retainers and change brush heads
Keep your removable retainers clean by brushing them each time you brush your teeth. And remember to change your toothbrush or electric brush head every 2-3 months. Old bristles become less effective at cleaning.
Rinse with water after brushing
After brushing your teeth and aligners, always rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. Swish water around your teeth and aligners to rinse away any remaining toothpaste and debris.
Floss at least once daily
Flossing at least once per day is important for removing plaque and food particles from between teeth that brushing misses. Do this before brushing at night if you only floss once. Or floss in the morning and before bed for added protection.
Thread floss carefully under the wire of braces and move it up and down the sides of each tooth. Curved flossers can make flossing with Invisalign easier.
Consider a mouthwash
Using an antimicrobial mouthwash helps reduce bacteria between brushings. Most orthodontists recommend alcohol-free varieties to avoid drying out the mouth. Use mouthwash when you brush in the morning and evening for the most benefit.
Brush after eating or drinking anything other than water
To recap, the number one rule is to brush after consuming anything other than water when wearing Invisalign. This includes:
- After finishing meals
- After snacks, desserts or sugary drinks
- After coffee, tea, wine or other staining beverages
- After acidic drinks like fruit juice
- After dairy products like milk or yogurt
- After crunchy snacks that may leave particles behind
Brushing after anything other than water prevents buildup on teeth and aligners leading to stains, odors and cavities. Most Invisalign users brush after meals 5 or more times per day.
Ask your orthodontist for guidance
Always consult your orthodontist for their specific recommendations on brushing frequency and oral hygiene with Invisalign. Since requirements vary between patients, follow their instructions for best results.
With diligent brushing and cleaning habits, you can keep your mouth healthy and your aligners clear. Maintaining good oral hygiene ensures your Invisalign treatment progresses smoothly.
Conclusion
For optimal oral health and a successful Invisalign treatment, brush your teeth and aligners after every meal or snack, before reinserting aligners, and before bedtime. Thoroughly brush all tooth surfaces and gumlines for 2-3 minutes each time. Clean aligners by brushing, soaking and using cleaning sprays. Floss daily and use mouthwash for added protection. With 5 or more brushing sessions per day, you can minimize odors, stains and plaque buildup. Consult your orthodontist if you have any questions about brushing frequency with Invisalign.