Can I Use Soap to Clean Invisalign? How to Clean Your Clear Aligners

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01/20/22

Can you use soap to clean your Invisalign? Can you use toothpaste to clean clear aligners? What about using a toothbrush to clean them? These are common questions we get from patients about caring for their clear aligners. There are certain products that you can use, and there are others you absolutely shouldn’t use.

Northwest Orthodontics has answers to your Invisalign questions. Dr. Gray is a provider of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen and can guide you through your treatment journey. He can answer any questions you may have, from treatment times to care for your aligners. 

A big part of caring for your Invisalign is keeping them clean. Neglecting to keep them clean could lead to cavities or even gum disease. Some products are great for cleaning your Invisalign. Others can damage them. So here are a few rules to live by when using Invisalign. 

Can I Use Soap to Clean My Invisalign? 

The simple answer is yes and no. If you need to clean with antibacterial soap, then it is possible to use a soft, clear liquid soap. Be sure to clean gently, and rinse the clear aligners well before reinserting them. 

Do not use any soap with color in it, because the color can stain your clear aligners. So those green soaps with aloe vera, the orange antibacterial soaps, or your bath store favorite wouldn’t be a good idea.

Can you clean Invisalign with toothpaste?

A lot of new patients ask us, "Can I brush my Invisalign with toothpaste?"

The short answer is: Toothpaste is NOT the best way to clean Invisalign. Because it has abrasives in it that can scratch and damage your Invisalign trays, if brush your aligners with toothpaste, you may end up with cloudy-looking aligners. Don't worry, though — there are plenty of alternatives for cleaning your clear aligners!

Best Ways to Clean Invisalign

So what are the best ways to clean your Invisalign? There are several methods available, from using special tablets to cleaning with water and a soft toothbrush. Here are the different ways you can keep your Invisalign clean and clear.

Invisalign tablets

Several companies offer special tablets made to clean clear aligners and retainers. These tablets should be available at your local pharmacies or grocery stores, or at online retailers. We can let you know where you can find these tablets if you’re in the Northwest Arkansas or River Valley areas. 

 These tablets work like denture tablets, and in fact, they can clean dentures as well. With these tablets, you dissolve one tablet in warm water, rinse your Invisalign of any particles you can, then drop them into the tablet solution for at least 15 minutes. Afterward, you rinse the aligners well and put them back into your mouth.

Soft-Bristled Toothbrush

It is possible to clean your clear aligners with a toothbrush if you use the right toothbrush. Never brush your clear aligners with anything other than a soft-bristled or supersoft-bristled toothbrush. Anything harder can scratch and damage your aligners. But it’s good to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food particles from the Invisalign trays for proper cleaning.

Alternative Methods to Clean Your Invisalign

If you can’t find the Invisalign tablets, don’t worry. There are other options available to help keep your Invisalign clean throughout your aligner treatment. Let’s take a look at a few of these. 

Denture Cleansers 

If you can’t find the Invisalign tablets, you can use a non-abrasive denture tablet. Make sure the tablet dissolves fully, then soak your Invisalign for about 15 minutes. Rinse them well afterward, and brush off any excess plaque that may still be there by using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Then, back in your mouth they go! 

Baking Soda

Baking soda can be abrasive, so you want to be sure you soak it in warm water well until it dissolves. Then soak your Invisalign for about 30 minutes. The baking soda should take care of any bacteria on your Invisalign and sanitize them. You can brush of any excess plaque afterward and place them back into your mouth. 

Distilled White Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar is great for sanitizing your Invisalign, but ONLY if you use white (clear) vinegar. Any other vinegar will stain your clear aligners. You’ll want to have one part vinegar to three parts warm water. Soak your clear aligners for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Getting Into a Routine

You’ll want to soak your Invisalign at least once a day, and you’ll want to rinse them each time you take the clear aligners out and before you put them back into your mouth. Make a routine to soak your Invisalign at a certain time each day, such as before bed or first thing in the morning. Good oral hygiene habits are vital in your treatment and for your overall oral health. 

Our patients often have questions about cleaning Invisalign or anything regarding their orthodontic treatment. If you’re one of those patients, don’t hesitate to contact us! We can talk you through any questions or concerns you may have.

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Northwest Orthodontics is located in Centerton, Fort Smith, & Fayetteville, AR but happily serves Bentonville, Farmington, Springdale, Rogers, Johnson Prairie Grove, West Fork, Tontitown, The River Valley, and Northwest Arkansas. The contents of nw-ortho.com are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Copying without permission is strictly forbidden.

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