How to Clean and Maintain Your Clear Aligners Without Damaging Them

• Rinse Every Time You Remove Them: Whenever you take out your aligners to eat, rinse them immediately under lukewarm running tap water to prevent dry saliva from crusting into plaque.
• Gentle Brushing with a Soft Toothbrush: Use a separate soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean the inside and outside of the trays daily.
• Use Clear, Mild Antibacterial Soap: A drop of clear liquid antibacterial hand soap or specialized aligner cleaning foam works wonders to cut through oral biofilms without scratching.

• Never Use Abrasive Toothpaste: Regular toothpastes contain abrasive silica particles designed to polish enamel. On soft polyurethane aligners, toothpaste creates microscopic scratches that trap bacteria and make the trays look permanently cloudy.
• Never Use Hot or Boiling Water: High heat will warp and deform the precision thermoplastic material, completely ruining the aligner's fit and stopping tooth movement.
• Never Use Colored Mouthwashes: Soaking aligners in blue, green, or red mouthwashes will dye the clear plastic.

Twice a week, soak your aligners in specialized Invisalign Cleaning Crystals or gentle effervescent retainers tablets for 15 minutes. This breaks down stubborn calcium deposits (tartar) and eliminates bacteria in hard-to-reach crevices.