Metal Mouth Message Board

Almost two weeks in, and I'm still spending way too much time trying to keep up the Invisalign cleaning routine. Anybody have any shortcuts, tricks for quick routine that still feels like your teeth are "safe" from lurking cavity makers?

Plz tolerate the cleaning process because the affects and dangers of overgrowth of bacteria could compromise your health. Read my post under the respiratory post. You don't want to take any changes with developing a bacterial infection which may lead to heart failure.

What are you using currently?

I use retainer brite and a toothbrush and my orthodontist always comments on how clean my trays are when I come in for a checkup. I let the trays soak for about 20 minutes while I eat and then brush them thoroughly and rinse them.

I use retainer bright most mornings

Doesn’t Invisalign recommend using a toothbrush and toothpaste? In any event, that’s exactly my approach mornings when I get up and evenings just before bed.

I'll be getting them in a few months, good info. Thanks all!

If you brush clear aligners or retainers, you will be putting microscopic scratches in them which will make them prone to harbor more bacteria, and could cloud them up eventually. It's best not to brush those type of retainers or aligners. Also, toothpaste is abrasive and does not kill bacteria which makes your retainer or aligner smell bad.

DentaKit.com carries 7 different types of retainer cleaners. We also have a "Retainer Cleaner Finder" tool to help you figure out which one(s) are best for your situation: https://www.dentakit.com/cleaner-finder.html

Interesting. Perhaps a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution would be a compatible cleaner/disinfectant in which one might soak aligner trays? Seems reasonable.