Clearing The Way to Clean Aligners

The key to a straighter smile is to work smarter, not harder. That’s why Smart Moves clear aligners are such an excellent choice when it comes to orthodontics. Smart Moves aligners are clear trays that fit over your teeth and gradually move them into a more desirable position. Unlike traditional braces, they can often take less time to treat orthodontic issues, and because they’re clear most people can’t tell you’re wearing them. But for them to stay virtually undetectable, you need to properly maintain them. Here’s how you should care for your Smart Moves aligners to keep them looking their best.

Rinsing Your Smart Moves Aligners

Though you remove your Smart Moves aligners each time you eat or drink anything but water, you still need to keep them clean between wearing. Thus, whenever you take them out of your mouth, be sure to rinse them off and store them somewhere safe like your aligner case. You may even want to rinse them again before putting them back in your mouth. Furthermore, you should also brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with water each time you eat or drink and before you put them back in.

When to Clean Your Smart Moves Aligners

Your aligners should be cleaned every evening before you go to bed. Be sure to brush and floss your teeth, and then using a separate, soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste, gently scrub your aligners and rinse them with water. You can also soak them in an aligner or retainer soak to help keep them fresh, however you still need to brush them whether you choose to soak them or not.

Things That Will Stain Your Smart Moves Aligners

While they are clear, aligners can still become discolored if you do not properly care for them. Brushing, rinsing, and soaking them can help with this, however there are other ways you can accidentally stain them if you are not careful. These include:

• Eating or drinking anything but water while wearing your aligners.
• Soaking your aligners in mouthwash or not rinsing your mouth after using mouthwash.
• Smoking.
• Soaking your aligners in denture soak.

Thankfully, most aligners are replaced within several weeks so even if they do start looking a little dingy, it won’t be long before you’re ready for a new pair, but that doesn’t mean you can simply neglect to care for them in the meantime.

Remember, your aligners are meant to be virtually undetectable, but without proper cleaning, they’ll be much easier to spot!

About Our Practice

At Gerome & Patrice Family Dentistry, we don’t just care for our patients and their families, we are a bit of a family ourselves. In fact, Dr. Patrice has been a patient of Dr. Gerome since she was just six years old! Today our dynamic dental team provides high quality treatments to patients of all ages, just like we’ve done for over three generations. Whether you need a cleaning, a restoration, or to straighten your smile with Smart Moves aligners, we’re here to help.

To schedule an appointment, please visit our website or call us at 513-677-1349.