Keeping Your Invisalign Trays Clean and Fresh

I've been wearing Invisalign trays for about 3 months now, and I have gone through several different cleaning methods. Here are the techniques that worked for me and will work for you, too.

Before I go over cleaning techniques, I'll give you an overview on what exactly Invisalign is. Invisalign is a way to straighten your teeth, invisibly, with a series of clear trays that fit onto your teeth. Trays are changed about every 2 weeks, until you reach a new smile. I'm wearing Invisalign for 5 months total. I will be done in the 2^nd week of April this year. Can't wait! If you are one of the many patients going through Invisalign treatment, this article may be of some use to you.

Your dentist has probably recommend that you buy the Invisalign cleaning kit, which if you have the money to buy it, go for it. For those of us who don't want to spend that kind of money (about $70) on a cleaning kit, try these options out instead.

Efferdent (or other denture cleaner)

This is the technique I most often use, and seems to work the best. Although many dentists will tell you not to use denture cleaner because it can make your aligners look "cloudy", I've had no problem with it. When I take my aligners out to eat breakfast in the morning, I soak them in denture cleaner, to make them fresh and clean for the day. Once they have soaked for at least 15-20 minutes, I take them out of the cleaner and brush them with my toothbrush to release any of the white buildup that may be left. Efferdent will not remove all of the buildup, it just kills the bacteria on your trays, making them clean and smell better. (Trays can really get a nasty smell if they are not clean!)

Dawn liquid dish soap

Soak the aligners in a solution of water and a few drops of Dawn. Before putting the trays back on your teeth, make sure you brush them with regular toothpaste to remove any of the soap.

Hydrogen Peroxide