When it comes to Invisalign, commitment to treatment is key for successful results. You need to wear aligners for about 20-22 hours per day. Wearing this too long often leads to plaque, buildup, stains, and occasional food particles inside of your Invisalign trays. The question here may arise: “How to clean Invisalign trays?” Luckily, cleaning Invisalign aligners is very simple if you use the following methods as part of your daily oral hygiene routine.
How to Clean Invisalign Trays: The Must-Do
- Hand Soap:
One of the easiest and best ways to clean invisalign is to use clear, light-scented hand soap and a soft manual toothbrush.
Note: When it comes to cleaning Invisalign aligners, keep in mind these notes:
- Not to use toothpaste as it scratches your aligners.
- Forget using an electrical toothbrush, as it does not fit well inside the trays.
- Avoid using colored or heavily scented soap, as they may stain the aligners.
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Think about how to clean Invisalign trays? One of the best, cost-effective solutions is to use hydrogen peroxide if your aligners get yellow or brown. To do so, make a cleaning solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and lukewarm water and let your aligners soak in the solution for about 20 minutes. Afterward rinse them and put them back in.
- White Vinegar
Another cost-effective solution for cleaning Invisalign braces is to use white vinegar. To do so, dilute 1 part of distilled white vinegar in 3 parts of water. To fully remove buildup from your aligner, let them soak for around 15-20 minutes, and after that, rinse them well. To perfectly remove plaque and buildups that were loosened up by the vinegar, rinse the aligners with a manual toothbrush.
Note: Vinegar leaves its special smell even after rinsing. To solve the issue, rinse a few times with plain water.
- Invisalign Brand cleaners
Thinking about how to disinfect Invisalign aligners? Why not try Invisalign cleaning crystals? It’s a popular, easy-to-use cleaning product that carefully disinfects and cleans your retainers or aligners. Just dilute the crystal in lukewarm water (not hot) and let your aligners soak for around 15 minutes or more.
This solution is convenient and effective, but compared to the three mentioned above, it is significantly more expensive—around $27 per month if you want to use it every day.
- Invisalign Cleaning Spray and Foam
Both the spray and foam contain hydrogen peroxide and a detergent (SLS). They are very convenient compared to other options, but they are also more expensive. The bottles are quite small—the spray is just one-third of an ounce and costs about $11.99.
FAQ
- Don’t use hot water, as it will change the shape of your aligners, and they may not fit properly anymore!
- Don’t use toothpaste, as most toothpastes have an abrasive ingredient (silica), creating fine scratches on your aligners.
- Don’t use baking soda, as it’s significantly abrasive and will cause scratches on your trays.
A soft toothbrush and an antibacterial soap can be the best, cost-effective solutions for cleaning your retainers.
You should clean them every day—at least once a day. The best time to do this is after your oral hygiene routine. Whether it's morning or night doesn’t matter; what’s important is consistently following one of the methods we’ve outlined here.
We recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and hand soap for daily cleaning. For heavy stains or plaque buildup, consider using peroxide or vinegar as needed.
The best way to prevent stains on your aligners is to avoid eating or drinking colorful beverages like coffee, wine, or soda while wearing them. You should only drink water when your aligners are in your mouth.
If your aligners do turn yellow or brown, gently brush the inside with a soft toothbrush and antibacterial soap. If that doesn’t work, soak them in a solution of equal parts peroxide and lukewarm water for about 20 minutes.
No! Most toothpastes contain fine abrasive ingredients—like silica or baking soda—that help remove the stains but will scratch aligners.
While it’s possible to use whitening gel with your Invisalign, it’s not recommended, as all-day bleaching will cause sensitivity in your teeth and may burn your gums. If you’re pursuing whiter teeth, the safest way is to use an at-home whitening kit or visit your orthodontist for a professional treatment.
Invisalign retainers are similar to Invisalign aligners, so you can use all the methods we outlined here for cleaning Invisalign retainers.
- Clean your aligners daily.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day.
- If you don’t have time to brush after eating, use an antimicrobial mouth rinse.
Consistent oral hygiene is key to keeping your teeth white while using Invisalign.
Last Note
Invisalign is one of the most effective, discreet options for aligning smiles. If you’re looking for a doctor for Invisalign, you’re in the right place! Contact us at York Orthodontics to schedule your FREE Invisalign consultation.
Dr Nima Mir
Dr. Nima Mir earned his B.Sc. from York University, D.D.S. from USC, and completed his orthodontics certification and M.Sc. at UNMC. As a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, he is qualified to practice in both the US and Canada and was inducted into the prestigious OKU dental honor society.
