18 October 2018
How to Care for Your Invisalign Retainers
You’re thrilled at the prospect at finally having straight teeth and a great smile with Invisalign aligners. But you must be careful to take good care of your retainers. Here are five tips to protect them.
Clean your Invisalign retainers daily. They will collect food, bacteria and plaque, so it’s important to rinse them several times every day. Lukewarm water will remove any bacteria build-up. And soaking your retainer weekly in distilled water (with a drop of castile soap or baking soda) will disinfect the retainer. After soaking, gently clean the retainer with your toothbrush, then rinse it with lukewarm water. Never use boiling water or chemicals on your retainer.
Protect your retainer from extreme heat. Because your retainers are plastic, it makes sense that extreme heat will distort their shape. Always use lukewarm water to protect the retainer. If you accidentally leave your retainer in extreme heat, contact your dentist right away. You may need a replacement.
Don’t soak in mouthwash. Mouthwash has a pigment that your plastic retainer will absorb and can give your teeth an unwanted colour.
Clean retainers before storing them in their case. When you’re moving on to another set of retainers, it’s best to store them carefully — just in case you need them again later.
Remove your retainer when drinking any beverages. Keep your case with you so you can store it quickly when necessary.
Follow your orthodontist’s instructions and stay committed to keeping your retainers clean and maintaining good dental health.
More information at:
https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/5-tips-to-caring-for-your-invisalign-retainers/