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Author
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Topic: Invisalign - cleaning your aligners
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turkey
unregistered
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posted 09-04-2005 04:26 PM
I know this has been mentioned from time to time on the main Invisalign post, but I wanted to focus on it. I'm on day 3 or so, and so far so good, generally. As everyone else does, I brush my teeth and the aligners with toothpaste each time I take them out, but I'm paranoid about bad breath and want to find the best deep-cleaning method to use a few times a week. I've read about soaking them in Listerine, denture cleaner, and hydrogen peroxide (half water). Since I have an almost full bottle of hydrogen peroxide that we never really use for anything else, I think I'm going to try that. Do people find that is effective? More/less than the others? There seem to be mixed reviews about the denture cleaners - the rep told me not to use them because it breaks down the plastic, and the instructions said not to use because it can make the aligners "dull," but people don't seem to be having that problem.
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Ash
unregistered
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posted 09-06-2005 02:57 PM
I have found that even if you use Hydrogen Peroxide or denture cleaner, it does not clean it really well. You still have to use brush to remove the white deposits. I wish there would be some solution in which you soak your aligner for few mins, rinse and it should look like new 
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johnnycake
unregistered
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posted 09-06-2005 08:12 PM
I still have to brush the deposits off the aligners too. A toothbrush and toothpaste works best.
Does anyone know how the referral program works? Apparently if you go to the website for Invisalign www.invisalign.com and click on "I'm a patient" the company will send you $50 gift certificates for everyone that you refer.
Cheers!
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Nicole
unregistered
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posted 09-08-2005 11:27 AM
I brush mine with toothpaste everytime I put them back in my mouth and then about 3 times a week I soak them in efferdent and it works great. I haven't had a problem with bad breath but since I get paranoid about that kind of thing I use a mouth spray that is sugar free and just spray it to the back of my mouth when I feel like I need freshening up. Any kind will do but my store sells this stuff called "Sweet Breath". Make sure whatever kind you buy it's sugar free.
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Jade
unregistered
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posted 09-22-2005 11:21 AM
I clean my Invisalign trays with Retainer Brite tablets. So far I've found it's the fastest and easiest way. I don't want to mess around with chemicals. Toothpaste was making my trays look cloudy. What I like about Retainer Brite is that you can keep the tablets with you when you travel with no mess. Anyway, they never smell or anything. It works great! I got mine at Dentakit.com.
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Kimbob
unregistered
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posted 09-22-2005 04:47 PM
I have had no problems with cloudiness of my aligners caused by brushing them with toothpaste. However, it's probably important to avoid brushing them with whitening pastes because those are much more abrasive. Even tiny little scratches in the plastic of the aligner will make them less clear.
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Perry
unregistered
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posted 10-01-2005 10:27 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by turkey:
breath and want to find the best deep-cleaning method to use a few times a week.
I don't use anything on mine, including toothpaste. I put them in a glass of water if I'm taking them out, and clean then with a rotary toothbrush (Rotadent) and plain water. The rotary toothbrush gets into all the nooks and crannies, and my liners are fresh and crystal clear every time.
-Perry-
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Jeremy
unregistered
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posted 10-03-2005 09:40 AM
I have found Polident cleaner to work best for me. I brush the trays with my tooth brush whenever I brush my teeth, and then soak them in the Polident while I eat dinner. It leaves them with a nice minty smell. The first few days, before I started doing this my trays smelled horrible.
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Al
unregistered
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posted 10-05-2005 01:49 AM
Try soaking them for awhile in Listerine Whitening Formula Mouthwash. This cleans them well and makes them taste good too. You must use the Whitening formula though...
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Lynette
unregistered
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posted 10-06-2005 01:58 PM
I would like to begin within the next 2 months. You can refer me and I too would receive a discount.
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GJ
unregistered
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posted 10-07-2005 09:44 PM
I brush out my aligners once a day with an Oral B electric toothbrush and Dawn dishwashing liquid. Seems to work well, as I've not noticed any of the white buildup that has been mentioned. My ortho actually recommended using Dawn as a cleaning method.
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steven
Junior Member
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posted 01-16-2007 03:47 PM
For cleaning Invisalign aligners and trays, I have a great experience with a product called sonicbrite. I really like the sonic brite system. It is a powder similar to the cleaning powder the Invisalign people give you, with a nice sonic cleaner, but it is a lot cheaper and does a great job. You can't brush your aligners because they will get scratched. And as I found out, if you don't clean them regularly they get this really icky white film buildup on them that is hard to get off. I got the sonicbrite at www.dentakit.com, and I notice that they also sell a product called retainer brite, which I think would also work. I just wanted powder and not tablets, and the sonicbrite cleaning bath looked like a nicer gadget than the other sonic cleaner they sell. For cleaning aligners (and retainers for that matter), these are the products I would recommend. If you don't want to buy them on the web, maybe your orthodontist has some to sell to you. I think it's really important to keep your aligner trays clean. I mean, the treatment is so expensive and I want my aligners to stay clear and not smell bad!
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marsha
Preferred Member
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posted 01-16-2007 04:33 PM
I use Efferdent everyday. Be sure to rinse them off as soon as you remove them as they will begin to smell almost immedialtely if you don't. About once a week, I soak (dip really) them in a solution of bleach and water. That really cleans them up.
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LuLu
Preferred Member
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posted 01-16-2007 07:28 PM
Another thumbs up for Efferdent. It really does make the cleaning effortless. Steven, not sure what kind of brush you're using which scratches your aligners?! I use a soft baby toothbrush which helps get in those tiny gaps with no problems at all...19 months down the line and counting...
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SusieQ
Preferred Member
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posted 01-16-2007 11:05 PM
This helps also:Instead of storing my aligners in my case (dry) when eating, I let them sit in a cup of plain water. This way they don't dry out and start to get icky. Of course, this only works when I'm eating at home.
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LuLu
Preferred Member
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posted 01-17-2007 08:40 AM
Susie -- Good point. Though if I'm out (and not going to be eating for long, or can't get to a bathroom), I take a small plastic tub of water and throw in an efferdent and leave the aligners in the car soaking. Then chew some gum, pop them back in and clean my teeth when I can. One big tip would be to always carry extra water for your aligners wherever you are! I've been known to brush my teeth in the car on several occasions...
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SusieQ
Preferred Member
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posted 01-17-2007 10:48 AM
Lulu: It's good to hear that I'm not that only one who has brushed her teeth in weird places (you in the car! haha). During the summer, I brushed my teeth on the beach once or twice. Sitting on the sand, with my bottle of water. Oh, the things we'll do for straight teeth. hahaha
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LuLu
Preferred Member
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posted 01-17-2007 12:17 PM
Oh, I think you top me by brushing on the beach! lol  I don't care who stares at me...I could be doing a lot worse than brushing my teeth, and who does it hurt anyway?!
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marsha
Preferred Member
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posted 01-17-2007 08:48 PM
I'm a teacher and I've gotten to the point that I brush in the classroom if I can't get out, Not one child has questioned me about it. Of course, they are only 7!I've done the rinse as well as I can and chew gum and get to the real brushing asap. You do what you can.
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SusieQ
Preferred Member
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posted 01-17-2007 11:31 PM
hahaha...These teeth-brushing stories crack me up!People do sometimes stare at me when I'm brushing my teeth in a restaurant's public bathroom, or in the bathroom in my college's student center. But I always say, "They're just jealous because I have such great dental hygeine!" hahaha
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PopsiclePetey
Junior Member
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posted 01-21-2007 08:44 PM
Honesty, in all my experiences (albeit only end of aligner 7).. I have found the times when, for whatever reason, I have had to pull my aligners out and throw them in the case without rinsing them in warm water, that I find they have an annoying amount of "tooth scum" that I need to brush off before I put them back in... that's also where I find that I tend to scratch or "scuff" my aligners because I am giving the aligners a good going over with a toothbrush (even soft seems to cause problems if you are not careful).
Normally, I can use just my fingers and warm water to clean the aligner well enough when out to put back in my yap(at the time I pull them out and when I put them back in)....let the polident take care of it the next morning if need be.
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Pennylite
Junior Member
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posted 07-19-2007 11:31 AM
I have just ordered the Invisalign Cleaning System (www.invisalign.com and then click the "I'm a Patient" tab. Will let you know how it works. Using my toothpaste doesn't seem to keep them new and shiny looking and leaves a dull finish. I am beginning week three with my second set of aligners.
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LuLu
Preferred Member
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posted 07-19-2007 01:45 PM
I big thumbs up for Polident foam that is right near the Efferdent in the drugstore. This stuff is amazing! Just spray it on your aligners while you are cleaning your teeth and give them a quick brush and rinse and they come out sparkling bright and clear. No sign of scum or anything.(Personally, I find the Invisalign cleaning system a complete rip off when we have access to so many other cheaper methods.)
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shawnna89
Preferred Member
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posted 07-20-2007 02:38 PM
I have the sonicbrite cleaning system, I love it. It gets all the yucky stuff of. I use it every other day. I just brush my aligners other wise just to keep them fresh.
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Jon
Preferred Member
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posted 07-20-2007 04:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Pennylite:
I have just ordered the Invisalign Cleaning System (www.invisalign.com and then click the "I'm a Patient" tab. Will let you know how it works. Using my toothpaste doesn't seem to keep them new and shiny looking and leaves a dull finish. I am beginning week three with my second set of aligners.
Interesting. I think that the aligners are much more noticeable when they are shiny. They blend in better with the dull finish. I just clean mine with toothpaste and they do great for me.
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1penny
Preferred Member
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posted 07-23-2007 07:36 PM
I use Retainer Brite in the evening to get the daily crud off and brush them with toothpast 2-3 times a day. While flossing, I swish with Listerine - no bad breath here! I used to take mine out and put in the case while eating, but after reading some posts of people putting them in warm water, I tried that and was amazaed at the film that comes off just in water!
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lilypad
Preferred Member
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posted 07-28-2007 01:53 AM
im convinced the secret to keeping the aligners clean is to rinse them EXTREMELY well under running water when u first take them out. Then nothing has time to dry and harden. After eating, floss, brush and rinse alot with tap water, Then just a light brushing with toothpaste on the aligner before u put them back in should keep everything clean. I'm a lil obsessive about the cleanliness, but then....i have had gum surgery in the past when i wasnt so smart LOL! Day 8 of tray 1 of 12 uppers
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Geena
Preferred Member
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posted 07-28-2007 09:44 PM
I have found that if you keep the aligners in water when they're not in your mouth, they never seem to get buildup at all. The key in my opinion is to never let them "dry out". I place them in a small dish with water whenever I take them out, and once or sometimes twice a day throw an Efferdent tablet in there. I just quickly run a toothbrush over the aligners after brushing my teeth and have never had any problems whatsoever. I even carry a small Ziploc brand storage bowl in my purse which is about 3 inches in diameter, and when I'm out at a restaurant, I take my aligners out and place them in the container with water. The container has never leaked in my purse as it has a real tight seal. I've had to wear my top aligner for about six weeks now as I'm waiting on my refinement trays to come in, and they are still clear as can be.
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nj_guy
Junior Member
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posted 07-29-2007 09:09 PM
I've actually mastered the art of brushing while driving! Believe it or not....it may sound crazy ...but ...it's not that bad- when i'm on the go and grabbing something to eat in the car, i just floss then use my water bottle and carefully brush without making a mess (I've seen some pretty funny reactions from other drivers...as you could imagine) The hardest part is spitting out the window without getting it all down the side of my car ! ! I make sure the brush is real clean and dry when done, and I'm good to go! Please tell me someone else has done this??!
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LuLu
Preferred Member
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posted 07-30-2007 07:39 AM
Ermmm no. I have my safety and the safety of others to think about while driving. Seriously, do you really need to do that? It's as bad as drunk driving or using a cell phone while driving in my book. There's no excuse. If you had been at death scenes where the cause is people being distracted while driving, you would never do such a thing. Sorry. 
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Pricey102
Preferred Member
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posted 07-30-2007 12:05 PM
I have to agree. Options would be
1. dont eat in the car.
2. pull over and brush.
3. Stop at a restaurant or coffee shop to use their bathroom
4. wait till you get to your destination. Brushing while driving... not such a good idea
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Kim79
Junior Member
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posted 08-05-2007 12:25 PM
NJ guy....... i'm from NJ too! Yeah probably not a very good idea to brush while driving, (especially in NJ! i tried to floss once while driving and didn't feel really safe doing it so i put it down.. what i do is just wait till i get to wherever I need to be and then floss and swish my mouth with water before getting out. (if i can't get to a bathroom when i go inside) be careful!
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Ida
Junior Member
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posted 04-10-2008 06:22 PM
You all crack me up. I'm on aligner 46 and almost done... WOO HOO!
My Orthodondist (Dr. Gersch, Westfield, NJ - awesome!) is one of the top 100 providers in the country for Invisalign and he set me straight (no pun intended) from the get go.
- Every morning and night I clean the aligners with clear (no-moisturizer) soap and a toothbrush that's meant only for cleaning aligners (not brushing my teeth)(I never tried Dawn, but I bet that works well, too)
- Every few days I clean the aligners with KLEENITE (great stuff - inexpensive, meant for ortho appliances, not dentures. Although I ran out and couldn't find it in the store today - usually in CVS or Rite Aid - so I got Polident.)
- If I eat, I rinse the aligners with water in the sink. If no running water, I swish water around my mouth for about 10 seconds to get off the "tooth scum" (as someone so aptly put it above). I put the aligners away wet, but I never soak them in water (although I'm sure that has its advantages).
- After I eat, I don't brush my teeth (GASP!) I just chew sugar-free gum for about 10 min. Works great! I've been keeping Orbitz in business.
- Every morning and night, I floss, brush, and alternate between Listerine and fluoride rinse.Good luck and may you all create beautiful toothy smiles :-D
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NiteCyper
Junior Member
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posted 05-08-2008 08:05 AM
Hello everyone. I'm an Invisalign user of 16 years of age. I'm in my last trays of Invisalign now and have become repeatedly encumbered by the tedious brushing I have to do.It pains my joints to hold the Invisalign to brush them the entire way through. I used to soak them in mouth wash and they got a red tint afterwards (yeah, probably shouldn't've used that mouthwash). Despite that, my immediate family thought it was a bad idea because my Invisalign would be soaking in its own filth. I am hoping to find an effortless solution to keeping them clean and have found a few here. My Invisalign can get so dirty, they've smelled like a public pool, which I believe is the epitome of dirty Invisaligners, too many times to count. They are caked in yellow scum and at a certain point, I don't where them until I get to brush them again which causes my teeth to reset back to their old positions. I'm also a procrastinative person and that is really a factor to how often I brush my Invisaligners.
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BadBoy
Preferred Member
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posted 05-08-2008 01:22 PM
I've had excellent results for the past year just soaking my aligners once a day or two in warm water with an Efferdent tablet. Maybe just a little brushing afterwards.
Also soaking them for a half-hour in water mixed with hydrogen-peroxide once in a while is good too.
Has kept even my invisalign retainers clear and clean as new the past 6 months!
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