5 Tips to Taking Proper Care of Your ClearCorrect Aligners

Whether you recently received ClearCorrect aligners or are considering them as a possible option for orthodontic treatment, it’s important that you understand the responsibility that comes with these unique braces. Not only are they more flexible than traditional metal braces because you can easily remove them to eat and drink but also how you take care of them is vastly different. A dentist in Rocky Mount shares five tips designed to help you better maintain your clear aligners throughout treatment.  

Why It’s Necessary to Take Care of ClearCorrect Aligners

When wearing clear aligners, it’s important that you know how to properly clean your trays to avoid transferring bad bacteria onto your teeth. Since you are required to wear them for 20-22 hours each day, dried saliva and other harmful particles will accumulate and can create problems for your teeth if you’re not careful. This is why maintaining optimal oral hygiene is essential.

Knowing how to take care of your aligners will ensure they not only remain in good shape throughout your treatment, but it will also help in avoiding any potential delays due to damaged or lost trays.

5 Ways to Care For Your Aligners

While wearing ClearCorrect, you’ll need to be fully committed to the process as well as the maintenance that comes with orthodontic treatment. While it is possible to achieve results much quicker than with traditional braces, you’ll need to do your part in making sure your braces remain safe, clean, and fully effective. You can do this by:

• Never using toothpaste to clean them – Regular toothpaste is quite abrasive and can scratch the plastic. As a result, your trays may become more noticeable to others. If you want to maintain a more discreet type of treatment, you’ll need to opt for clear soap.
• Clean your teeth before reinserting your trays – You don’t want anything on your teeth transferring onto your trays, so make sure you are brushing and flossing before putting your trays back into your mouth.
• Rinse them immediately after removing them – When preparing to eat or drink, give your trays a quick rinse with lukewarm water. By removing dried saliva, you reduce your risk of bad bacteria accumulating in your aligners, which will then come into contact with your teeth and lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
• Use retainer cleaner to soak your trays – If you begin to notice that your aligners don’t look quite as clear as before, retainer cleaner is a great way to brighten them up and eliminate any stains. Just make sure you rinse them off before reinserting them into your mouth.
• Wear them the designated amount of time – You may be tempted at times to remove your trays or keep them out longer than you should but if you do, it will only result in a delay of treatment. The 20–22-hour timeframe is essential if you want your teeth to move in the right direction.

Pursuing ClearCorrect treatment can be a worthwhile venture as long as you take the necessary steps to maintain your trays. When you do, you can expect to enjoy a straighter, healthier, and more beautiful smile in the end.

About the Author
Dr. Kevin Schrimper is a Rocky Mount dentist who completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of North Carolina. Pursuing advanced training at the Pankey Institute, Nash Institute, and Dawson Institute, he is a ClearCorrect provider who enjoys helping patients achieve straighter, healthier smiles. With these clear aligners, patients can expect a more subtle form of orthodontic treatment that produces outstanding results. If you are interested in doing something about your crooked or misaligned teeth, visit our website or call (252) 937-7878.