Invisalign teeth straightening aligners are the ideal way to create a healthy, beautiful smile without the need for bulky metal braces or wires. While the invisible aligners let you enjoy orthodontic care without anyone knowing, it’s important to ensure you take care of your aligners at all times.
Failing to keep the aligners clean can cause bacteria to build up. Dry saliva and plaque both encourage bacteria growth, which can produce a foul smell. If the bacteria is allowed to continue building up, the clear plastic can become discolored.
When you’re at home and living your normal daily routine, caring for your Invisalign retainer is easy. However, looking after your oral hygiene care needs is a little more challenging when you’re going camping.
Here are some Invisalign care tips to make it easier to keep them clean when you’re away from home.
Pack an oral hygiene bag: Take the time to pack a portable oral hygiene kit that you can take with you on your camping trip. You should include your toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, and your Invisalign cleaning kit.
Rinse: Always take the time to rinse your aligners properly whenever you remove them. Invisalign was designed to be easily removed whenever you eat, so be sure you rinse them before you start your meal. When you’re finished eating, rinse your aligners again before putting them back into your mouth.
Soak: Take the opportunity to soak your Invisalign retainers while you’re eating. After you’ve rinsed the aligners, pop them into a tray to soak while you’re eating. You might use your official Invisalign cleaning crystals or you might have packed another brand of denture cleaner.
Brush and floss your teeth: One of the more convenient aspects of straightening your teeth with Invisalign is that you won’t be struggling to brush or floss in between brackets and wires. Simply brush and floss your teeth as normal.
Brush your aligners: You might also want to gently brush your aligners before putting them back into your mouth again. Be sure you rinse your toothbrush and only use water when brushing your Invisalign braces, as some brands of toothpaste could be abrasive and cause damage.
Keeping your invisible teeth straightening retainers clean and sanitized doesn’t have to be difficult just because you’re going camping. The key is to be prepared in advance with your oral hygiene needs.
Find opportunities to work your cleaning needs into your normal routine. For example, choosing to rinse and soak your aligners while you’re eating minimizes the time you have them out of your mouth and reduces the need to spend more time later on cleaning and soaking. After all, you need to remove them while you eat anyway, so get both tasks done at the same time.
