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Are You Worried About Your Orthodontic Treatment Being Noticed? 3 Tips To Keep Your Invisalign Trays Clear

22 April 2019

Diane Mason

You should never be ashamed of doing what you need to do to be happy with your smile. However, many people choose Invisalign treatment for one of its biggest benefits, and that is the ability to straighten teeth without changing their appearance with metal braces. Yet, you may also fear that your clear aligners could get discolored and begin to mar your appearance. These three tips will help you keep your trays sparkling clear so that the only anyone notices is your bright smile.

1. Don't Eat With Them In Your Mouth 

You should always remove the aligner trays when you eat. While this helps you to avoid trapping food inside of them that can cause cavities on your teeth, this also helps to prevent damage to the aligners. Some foods, such as strawberries and blueberries, contain natural pigments that can stain the aligner trays. Eating with the trays in your mouth can also cause scratches that will collect food debris and lead to stains over time. Always take out the trays during your meals and snacks, and remember to brush and floss your teeth before you put them back in. This prevents stain-causing food debris from being stuck inside of the aligners where it can also cause discoloration.

2. Follow the Proper Cleaning Methods

When people worry about staining, they sometimes resort to aggressive cleaning methods. While it may seem like a good idea to use whitening toothpaste on the aligners, it is not. Many toothpastes contain abrasive materials that will dull the surface of the aligners and cause them to be more noticeable when they rest against your teeth. You can also inadvertently create microscopic scratches that collect stains. Make sure to brush the aligner trays using gentle pressure, and soak them in the appropriate solution for cleaning them every day.

3. Be Aware of Stains From Beverages

Invisalign trays are made from materials that are designed to be durable and stain-resistant. Yet, you still need to do your part to prevent discolorations. If your treatment includes the application of attachments to help your teeth align, then you need to be aware that the composite material can pick up stains from things that you drink such as coffee that shows through the aligners. The trays themselves can also become stained from harsh beverages such as red wine or brightly colored energy drinks. If you do indulge, be sure to take the trays out first just like you were eating.

Aligner trays are typically changed out every two weeks, but you still want them to stay as clear as possible during that time. By being aware of what you eat and how you clean the trays, you can feel confident that no one will be able to detect your orthodontic treatment.

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