How to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners

Using a separate toothbrush from your personal toothbrush, gently brush the aligners inside and out with generic dish soap. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, put a pea-sized amount of dish soap on the toothbrush, run underwater, and gently brush the entire aligner. Rinse thoroughly under water before putting back in your mouth.

Don't use toothpaste: the abrasive materials in toothpaste can scratch the surface of the aligners. And try to avoid very brightly colored soaps with a lot of dye in them: this can potentially stain the aligners.
If you don't have dish soap available, you can use hand soap, or simply brush the aligners with water.

Denture cleaner is sold over the counter at your local pharmacy and works well as a soaking solution for Invisalign aligners. Polident is a popular and effective brand of denture cleaner. Simply soak both aligners in denture cleaner for about 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly before use.

Invisalign Cleaning Crystals are a cleaning brand specifically designed by Invisalign to clean their clear aligners. Dissolve an individual packet of crystals into a glass of water and soak your aligners for 15 minutes.

Rinse before putting back in your mouth. Invisalign cleaning crystals are a little pricier than the other options mentioned, but they are specifically designed to remove plaque and bacteria from your aligners, for the highest-quality clean.

EverSmile® WhiteFoam is a bacteria-killing, breath-freshening foam that you can apply directly into your aligners. With no brushing or soaking required, it's a good on-the-go solution to keep your aligners clean throughout the day.

The foam gently whitens your teeth and your attachments, as well as whitening beneath the attachments to prevent discoloration. And its mint flavor makes WhiteFoam a great breath freshener any time. You can get WhiteFoam from your orthodontist or order online.

You might know hydrogen peroxide as a first-aid antiseptic or a bleaching agent for your hair, but it also is an excellent cleaner for Invisalign aligners! Mix equal parts warm water and 3% hydrogen peroxide and soak both aligners for 15-30 minutes. Rinse before using.

Note: hydrogen peroxide will kill the bacteria on your aligners, but not stop plaque, so you should brush them with water and/or dish soap using a soft-bristled brush after soaking to knock off any plaque that has accumulated.

White distilled vinegar is an effective cleaning agent and works well for soaking aligners. Mix three parts warm water to 1 part vinegar (make sure it's white distilled vinegar, there are many other kinds that do not work for cleaning), and soak for 15-30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and brush to remove tartar or plaque.

Clean your Invisalign aligners twice daily, along with brushing your teeth. Clean them by brushing or soaking using any of the methods described above, or a combination of them. For instance, some Invisalign patients prefer to brush them in the morning and soak them in the evening while they prepare for bed.

Remove aligners for eating and drinking anything but water, and store them in their case so they don't get damaged or lost. If possible, you should brush and floss after every meal, but if you don't have the ability to do that, just rinse your mouth with water and spit in the sink. Rinse the aligners under lukewarm water (hot water can warp the aligners) before putting them back in your mouth.

Keeping your aligners clean will help ensure your treatment is on track and progressing smoothly, and will prevent discoloration or staining on the aligners, making them look more noticeable.

Yes, Invisalign Cleaning Crystals are an excellent method to keep your Invisalign aligners sparkling clear and fresh. To use them, dissolve an individual packet of crystals into a glass of lukewarm water, and drop both aligners in. Soak them for 15-30 minutes in the solution, and then rinse after soaking to remove any residue. Soak every night for best results.

The cleaning crystal system is designed by Invisalign specifically to keep its aligners clean. They are optimized to kill bacteria and rid the aligners of any plaque build-up. You can order them online or get them from your orthodontist.