The hardest part of any dental treatment is the aftercare. There are plenty of things that can go wrong if you’re not careful or diligent enough with your cleaning. So, with all of that in mind, here are a few helpful hints on how to care for your Invisalignbrace after treatment.
Keep it in at all times
Your dentist will probably tell you this too, but it really cannot be stressed enough how important it is that you keep your brace in as long as you can. Generally, it’s recommended that you keep it in place for a minimum of 22 hours a day to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted realignment.
Clean it often
As we’ve mentioned already, it’s very easy for bacteria, plaque and even some staining to build-up over time. Cleaning your brace every other day, if it’s possible, is a good way to counter this.
To clean it use a diluted solution of recommended cleaning solution and water, then gently scrub this over the brace before rinsing it off and leaving it to dry in its container. For that deep clean you can also use anti-bacterial soap or cleaning crystals specifically made for these types of brace.
Rinse it whenever it’s removed
Regularly rinsing your brace when you take it out for meals, brushing or just a short break when it gets too uncomfortable is incredibly important. Washing it prevents the build-up of dried in saliva and plaque that can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can then spread to your teeth and cause all sorts of nasty infections.
So, each time you take it out give it a rinse with water and a light brushing with a toothbrush to keep it clean before you pop it back in.
Store it somewhere safe
It seems obvious, but a lot of patients still just sit their brace down wherever is closest to them once it’s removed. This again is pretty unsanitary, as you have no way of knowing how clean the surface you’re placing it on is. Your best option is to keep it inside a hard-bodied container to allow it to remain sterile and safe from any accidental damage.
Pack an extra set if you’re travelling
Another fairly common sense suggestion, pack an extra brace if you plan on travelling abroad or anywhere that’s far from your local practice. Although we all like to think we can look after our belongings accidents still do happen and the last thing you want is to be on holiday without a brace.
So, ask your practice for a spare, after all it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for any occasion.
These are just a few of the things you can do to make your brace last. It can be easily replaced if you’re desperate, but your dentist won’t always have the next set when you need it and any lengthy gaps in your treatment can negatively impact your realignment progress. So, try to look after it the best you can.
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