COVID-19 Tips for Cleaning Your Invisalign Without Seeing Dentist
The COVID-19 outbreak has caused massive changes in our day to day lives. One thing that has become clear is the importance of good hygiene and staying home to help stop the spread of the virus. If you have Invisalign, you may be wondering how to care for them when you can’t see your dentist for regular checkups. Here are some tips to help keep your aligners clean and functioning.
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Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands frequently is the most important tip to remember. Let’s repeat it, wash your hands, with soap, for at least 20 seconds often throughout the day. It is especially important to wash your hands after being in public, coughing, sneezing, or using the restroom. Washing with soap kills the virus that causes COVID-19 and is one of the most important things we can do to prevent the spread.
Wash your hands before removing or inserting your Invisalign. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
Clean Your Invisalign Every Morning and Night.
It is essential to get into a regular cleaning routine with your Invisalign. Because you wear your Invisalign for 20-22 hours throughout the day, Smiles Denture Care Centre dental implants in London recommends that you take the time to clean your aligners every morning and evening.
To clean your Invisalign you can use plain soap and water and then brush them gently with a toothbrush. This care will help prevent harmful bacteria from building up, which can cause tooth decay and gum disease if left against your teeth surfaces.
Rinse Your Invisalign after eating or drinking
Every time you remove your Invisalign to eat or drink throughout the day, give them a rinse before you put them back in your mouth. Rinsing helps clear away harmful bacteria and any food particles or plaque that might be left behind. Be careful not to set your Invisalign on any surface that might be contaminated — and don’t forget to wash your hands! (See tip #1).
Brush and Floss your Teeth after you eat or drink
An important thing to remember is that you must brush and floss your teeth every time you eat or drink food. You should never eat or drink with your aligners. This can damage them and cause food to get stuck between the plastic and your teeth. Aligners are not designed to handle the pressure of chewing, and food can stain your aligners, making them more visible.
Keep up with your Treatment
According to Lakeside Family Dental Implant in Burlington, there is no reason to stop wearing your aligners because of the pandemic. If you need a new aligner, get in touch with your dentist. They may be able to arrange for a safe pick-up. If you are on your last aligner for a while, you can continue to wear it to keep up with your progress. You will need to clean your Invisalign carefully and more often.
If you have any questions or your Invisalign isn’t feeling quite right, give your dentist a call or an email, they may be able to do a phone or email consultation to help resolve your issue.
