16 Mar Why It’s Important to Keep Your Aligners Clean
If you don’t keep your aligners clean, they can make your teeth look yellow and give you bad breath. But even worse, dirty aligners can cause cavities.
Invisalign is a big commitment. You have to wear your aligners for 22 hours every day, keep them in their case when you’re not wearing them, and rinse them every time you put them back in. Plus, you need to keep your aligners and your teeth extra clean if you want to avoid cavities.
How Dirty Aligners Cause Cavities
Dirty aligners trap germs and bacteria against your teeth, increasing the risk of cavities and gingivitis. Because your aligners are in constant contact with your teeth and gums, it is very important to keep them clean.
If you don’t keep your aligners clean, the tight seal of your aligner traps a bacteria-laden, sugary, acidic mixture against your teeth. This is a recipe for disaster, as far as cavities are concerned.
Here’s what happens if you don’t clean your aligners:
- Bacteria and food residue get trapped between your aligners and your teeth.
- The retainer creates a warm, moist, sealed space where bacteria can thrive.
- Normally, your saliva would wash away any residue from the things you eat and drink. However, the tight seal of your aligners keeps your saliva from reaching your teeth.
- The bacteria feed on sugars and produce acids that attack your tooth enamel. Over time, tiny holes called “caries” start to form.
How to Clean Your Clear Aligners
Keeping your aligners clean helps prevent bacteria buildup that leads to plaque buildup and cavities.
To clean your aligners properly, follow the instructions in the Invisalign care guide.
- Remove your aligners and rinse them in lukewarm water.
- Dissolve one packet of Invisalign™ Cleaning Crystals in warm water.
- Soak your aligners for 15 minutes, then rinse them thoroughly with lukewarm water..
Alternatively, you can brush your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and warm water. Do NOT use toothpaste on your aligners, as it is far too abrasive and may damage them.
Never leave your clear aligners out in the open after you remove them. When they are exposed to open air, bacteria can start to grow. Always keep them in their case when you take them out to eat or drink, and rinse them in warm water before you put the back in your mouth.
It’s a good idea to take an Invisalign case with you wherever you go, so you always have a safe place to store them. Leaving your aligners on the bathroom sink or slipping them into your pocket will only contaminate and damage them.
Invisalign Treatment in Prescott, Arizona
If you’d like to give Invisalign a try, contact Prescott Dentistry to schedule a consultation. We’ll be with you every step of the way to make sure your aligners fit properly and that your treatment results in a perfect smile. And if you need an extra cleaning when you come in for your next fitting, we can help with that, too.
Photo by Aurela Redenica on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 2/17/26.