Currently, there is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the pandemic and its potential effect. The pandemic turned to be all-encompassing within a short span and has now affected almost every aspect of life. Practicing good sanitation is critical if you want to remain safe and prevent the increase of Coronavirus cases. Part of this is proper dental hygiene, particularly when handling removable dental appliances. An example of such an appliance is Invisalign, and it requires to be handled with extra care when it comes to hygiene. Here we will give tips on how to care for your Invisalign aligners.
1. Clean Your Hands
One common way of combating virus transmission is through washing the hands regularly. Ensure you clean your hands with water and soap before you insert or remove your aligners. The body that controls and prevents diseases, CDC, advises individuals to regularly clean their hands with water and soap for at least 20 seconds. After coming into contact with any item that could be contaminated with the virus or being in a community area, it is important to apply this measure. In case you cannot access water and soap, ensure that you use a sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol.
2. Clean the Aligners
After the orthodontist fits your aligner, they give you a guideline on how you will clean them. Always ensure that you follow the cleaning routine. Also, ensure that you brush the aligners two times a day (morning and after supper), and if possible, brush after having lunch. By brushing manually, you eliminate bacteria and plaque buildup that has formed on your aligner. If you rinse your aligners the moment you remove them, you will minimize plaque buildup.
3. Soak Your Invisalign Aligners
To prevent plaque and bacteria buildup on the aligners, soak your aligners in a denture cleaner or Invisalign cleaning trays. If you cannot access these products, soak them in a mixture of distilled vinegar and lukewarm water. Do not soak your aligners in colored mouth wash or Listerine because it will stain them.
4. Ensure Your Aligner Case Is Clean
Your case might be a home of bad odors and undesirable bacteria if not taken care of. Ensure that you clean your case after few days using soap and warm water to get rid of the dirt on it.
Conclusion
Feeling uneasy and anxious during this pandemic is very normal. However, it is important to rest assured that you will remain safe during the pandemic by following the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines. These guidelines include maintaining social distance, putting on your mask whenever you are in public places, cleaning your hands regularly, and staying informed. By following a guideline such as washing hands regularly, you will also care for your Invisalign aligners. Also, ensure that you soak them and clean them thoroughly together with their casing. In case you have any questions regarding caring for your Invisalign aligners, do not hesitate to contact Ferris Orthodontics.
