If you have recently been fitted with Invisalign, you were probably attracted to their ability to straighten your teeth while being practically invisible. However, if you make the mistakes discussed below while taking care of or wearing the trays, you may wind up with dirty, very visible trays that could detract from the beauty of your smile while wearing them.

Leaving Your Trays in Your Mouth While Brushing

If you are in a hurry in the morning or stick to the recommended routine of brushing your teeth after every meal, you may be tempted to simply brush your trays while they are still in your mouth. However, leaving them on your teeth whenever you perform your oral care routine could result in discolorations.

When you brush your trays without removing them, you are only cleaning their exterior surfaces. Any food, liquid, or germs on your teeth or caught within the trays are not removed. Since these foreign substances remain in contact with the material for an extended period of time, staining on the interior is likely.

Instead of brushing the trays while they are still in your mouth, remove the trays, and brush them while holding them in your hands. Then, brush your teeth as you normally would before replacing the trays to keep your teeth healthy, as well as to completely remove any staining substances that could be reintroduced to the trays.

Using Denture Cleaner to Soak the Trays

After doing some research online, you may have come across the suggestion of using denture cleaner as an alternative for soaking your trays when you run out of mouthwash or the soaking agent recommended by your dentist. However, denture cleaner is not a good substitute for either of these methods.

Since denture cleaners are designed specifically to remove stains and germs from the hard artificial material from which false teeth are made, the chemicals found in them are usually too caustic for the flexible, softer material of your trays. When used too often, these chemicals start to break down the trays and deteriorate the surfaces.

As the surfaces of your trays deteriorate, stain-causing agents are harder to remove from the increasingly porous materials. The trays then become permanently stained, making them more visible while you are wearing them. Ultimately, it's better to stick with the solutions your dentist provide you.

Forgetting to Remove the Trays While Eating or Drinking Staining Foods

If you pride yourself in regularly and properly cleaning your Invisalign trays, you may feel that there is no need to remove them whenever your eat or drink anything, even if what you are consuming is known to cause stains on your teeth's enamel. However, if that coffee you are drinking or the berries you are eating can stain your teeth, they will also stain your trays.

When you consume a stain-causing food or beverage while wearing your trays, their ability to discolor your trays is increased if particles become stuck in between them and your teeth. The longer they are there, the more likely they are to stain the material in the spot where the particles are trapped.

Especially when you plan to enjoy a food or beverage that is known to stain your teeth, remove your trays before consuming them. Then, brush your teeth thoroughly when you are finished before you replace your trays to keep any hidden, stuck-on particles from staining the material of your trays.

Avoiding the above mistakes while taking care of your Invisalign trays can help keep them stain-free and invisible. If you have any further questions, speak with services like Galloway Dental Care for personalized advice for taking care of your Invisalign trays, as well as product recommendations.