How to keep your Invisalig clean?

• Start in the morning by removing your aligners, brushing them and brushing your teeth.
• Rinse the aligners with water every time you take them out of your mouth before putting them in their case.
• Brush and floss your teeth after every meal or snack before reinserting your aligners for optimal hygiene. If you don't have access to your cleaning kit, you can simply rinse your mouth and then clean your aligners by holding them under a stream of warm water. Not the best way to clean, but it works if absolutely necessary. Be sure to clean your aligners thoroughly as soon as possible.
• Clean the aligners with warm or cold water and toothpaste or antibacterial liquid soap or colourless liquid dish soap (preferably the organic version) and a toothbrush with soft bristles. You can either make a solution of warm water and soap and let the aligners soak in the solution, or apply the soap directly to the Invisalign. Either way, be sure to rinse the aligners sufficiently before wearing them again. Warm water and toothpaste are usually enough to remove plaque from aligners, but you can also use special products to clean aligners.
• Do not use abrasive toothpaste! You can use toothpaste to clean your aligners, but you should be careful not to use toothpaste that contains abrasive substances that could scratch your aligners. These scratches will detract from the clear appearance of your aligners and could create retentive areas for plaque deposits.
• Do not use hot water! Hot water can deform the plastic and cause problems fitting the aligners.
• Do not use mouthwash for dipping the aligners! Although suitable for oral hygiene, this type of product damages the material from which the aligners are made.
• Don't forget the case! It's important that your aligners are stored properly when you're not wearing them. When left outdoors, they are exposed to bacteria build-up. Also, your aligners are more likely to get lost or damaged this way. To prevent this, always take your aliner case with you. If you forget the case and leave your aligners out for a few hours, rinse them thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth.

These methods are NOT mandatory, but they can help you keep your aligners as clean as possible.

• Cleaning tablets for dentures or Invisalign cleaning crystals. It is recommended to dilute a special cleaning tablet used for cleaning dentures/retainers in a glass of water and put the aligners in for a a couple of minutes, once or twice a week. These types of tablets are marketed by different brands and are for sale in pharmacies.
• Vinegar and water. Soaking the aligners in a solution of white vinegar and water (1/4 vinegar, 3/4 water) once a week for 15-20 minutes will help to remove bacterial plaque from the aligners. For even deeper cleaning, add pinch of baking soda to the solution. Don't forget to rinse the aligners thoroughly before wearing them again.
• Baking soda and water. Baking soda has a certain abrasive quality, which although it won't harm your aligner will do a lot of harm to bacteria. Dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water. Let the aliners soak for at least 30 minutes before removing and brushing.
• Hydrogen peroxide. This is a good way to remove stains from the aligners. Take a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and mix it with equal parts warm water. Leave the aligners in this solution for at least half an hour, then rinse with cold water. This will kill most germs, but will not completely remove plaque buildup.
• Ultrasound. This method uses gentle vibrations and waves to get rid of any plaque buildup. You can additionally use an Invisalign denture or crystal cleaning tablet in conjunction with the ultrasonic method.

Whichever method you choose, it's important to adopt a daily cleansing routine for a successful treatment!