Do You Know How To Clean Your Invisalign Aligners?

    JENKINTOWN, PA, May 02, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Brush them down with toothpaste and a toothbrush, correct? That's partly right. A patient needs to use a toothbrush to remove any lingering food debris, but a patient needs to be gentle with Invisalign aligners. They aren't made of metal like traditional braces.

While Invisalign aligners aren't weak by any means, a patient can damage the plastic with over-the-counter dental products.

Are Toothpaste and Mouthwash too Abrasive for Aligners?
For natural teeth, toothpaste is essential to daily oral hygiene. That's because it is somewhat abrasive, and the abrasiveness of the gel, powder or paste helps remove plaque bacteria and food particles.

Different Cleaning Techniques for Teeth and Invisalign in Jenkintown
Your teeth and Invisalign aligners deserve your attention, but the two differ when it comes to oral hygiene practices.

For teeth, patients need to use a soft-bristle brush, lightly brushing teeth at a 45-degree angle towards the gumline. And patients need to remember to floss between each tooth, and rinse the mouth out with water or mouthwash.

For aligners, patients need to use soft-bristle brushes to gently clean the inside and outside of aligner and use less than a pea-size of toothpaste if any, while cleaning the aligner. The patient should soak the aligners in hydrogen peroxide for five minutes, and then rinse the aligners in cold water. Please remember to use cold water, not hot water. A hotter temperature could distort the plastic.

"Patients need to be careful when brushing the aligner with toothpaste. Roughly running a toothbrush and toothpaste over the plastic might accidentally scratch the surface, causing the aligner to appear opaque, which affects the transparency. Patients lose the greatest advantage (invisibility) by using the wrong cleaning techniques," says Dr. Limberakis.

Do you have a specific question about your Invisalign? Jenkintown residents can call (215) 886-8866 for more information. Or go to www.limberakisdental.com.

About Dr. Cary Limberakis:
Dr. Cary J. Limberakis graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. degree and earned his M.S. from Villanova University. His passion for dentistry led him to the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental, where he earned his dental training and D.M.D. degree. He is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists and Academy of General Dentistry. And Dr. Limberakis remains an active member of the American Dental Association, Pennsylvania Dental Association, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, Academy of Stomatology, the A.V. Purinton Academy of Dental Practice Administration, Philadelphia County Dental Society and Suburban Dental Study Club. To keep abreast with the latest dental technology and techniques, Dr. Limberakis annually attends annual continuing education courses, exceeding the required credit hours. He is an attending staff member and clinical instructor at Abington Memorial Hospital's General Practice Residency.

Media Contact:
Dr. Cary L. Limberakis, DMD
[email protected]
500 Old York Road, Suite 106
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 19046
(215) 886-8866
www.limberakisdental.com

As seen on: http://www.epressdistribution.com/news.asp?id=3683

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