Did you know that people in the United States alone spend upwards of $12 billion on the services of orthodontists every single year? This creates so much demand that the orthodontist industry has to employ more than 83,000 people.
One of the reasons the orthodontist industry is so popular is because Invisalign technology allows more adults to enjoy orthodontic treatment than ever before. At the same time, many people fall for the same few common Invisalign cleaning mistakes.
This can keep people from fully enjoying what Invisalign treatment can do for them. So what exactly are these common Invisalign cleaning mistakes, and how can you avoid them? Read on to learn all about the most important things to understand about avoiding common Invisalign cleaning mistakes!
1. Not Cleaning Invisalign Trays Every Day
Invisalign technology is far superior compared to traditional braces. However, you do have to properly take care of them. And that means cleaning them every single day.
Otherwise, you will face the prospect of the buildup of bacteria. That can lead to foul smells in the short term and oral health problems in the long term.
As long as you are using Invisalign aligners, you should think about washing them whenever you brush your teeth at least once a day.
When you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. You have to regularly clean your mouth. And your aligners end up exposed to everything that your mouth is exposed to.
2. Performing Regular Invisalign Maintenance With Soap
Some people are very careful to clean their aligners every day. However, they do not understand what materials they should be using to clean their Invisalign aligners. Some of the most common mistakes people make are cleaning their Invisalign aligners with mouthwash or soap.
Some soaps are actually quite abrasive. Using them on your aligners can ruin their discreet and subtle appearance.
Over time, this can also lead to enough damage to your aligners that they stop working effectively. On top of that, soap and mouthwash may simply fail at cleaning your aligners.
The only thing worse than damaging your aligners while cleaning them is damaging your aligners while failing to actually clean them.
3. Not Rinsing Invisalign Trays
Managing Invisalign aligners is many times simpler than managing traditional braces. You can eat anything you want without having to worry that you will damage your aligners. That is because you can simply remove them while you eat.
However, you must remember to rinse your aligners when you remove them to eat. Many people fail to do this because it requires them to learn a new habit.
That is why it is so important to start this as soon as you get your Invisalign aligners. That way, you will not build up the habit of taking them out without remembering to rinse them.
4. Failing to Use Invisalign Cleaning Tools Like Trays
There are special tools you can use to clean your Invisalign aligners. These can include cleaning trays that make the cleaning process more effective.
However, some people feel that it is not worth their time to purchase and use these cleaning trays.
Invisalign aligners are already many times easier to manage than traditional braces. They provide such huge advantages that it is more than worth taking the time to properly take care of them.
Using cleaning products usually requires that you simply place your aligners in the trays for a few minutes. After that, you can rinse them off and dry them.
5. Leaving Invisalign Aligners Out of Their Containers
When you remove your aligners from your mouth, they become susceptible to the development of bacteria. Of course, experts have already understood this problem and provided people with containers to protect their aligners when they’re not in their mouths.
All people have to do is remember to place their aligners in their containers. Unfortunately, not everybody remembers to do this. Don’t fall for this common mistake!
6. Eating While Wearing Invisalign Aligners
One of the greatest things about Invisalign aligners is that you can remove them when you eat. That means that they are not subject to the kind of damage that traditional braces are. Eating with traditional braces can be difficult because chewy or hard foods can damage or even knock off braces.
Fortunately, Invisalign aligners are immune to all of that because you do not have to wear them while you eat. Unfortunately, some people actually keep their aligners on while they eat. It is actually much easier to eat without aligners, so it should be easy to develop the habit of taking them out before eating.
Failing to do so can mean that your aligners develop physical damage.
7. Failing to Properly Maintain Oral Hygiene
Knowing how to clean aligners is not enough to prevent aligner damage. You also need to keep your own mouth clean.
Otherwise, placing your aligners in your mouth will immediately get them dirty. Make sure to keep up regular brushing and flossing while using aligners.
Avoid the Most Common Invisalign Cleaning Mistakes
We hope learning about the most common Invisalign cleaning mistakes has been helpful. Some people fail to get the most out of their Invisalign treatment because they do not properly take care of their aligners.
Spending just a few minutes on learning about how to avoid common aligner mistakes is an investment in your health and beauty. To learn more about how to make the most of Invisalign treatment, feel free to reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!