If you have minor alignment issues in your teeth or jaw, your dentist can straighten your smile using ClearCorrect. These clear braces feature translucent plastic aligners built to fit comfortably in your unique smile.
You will swap the removable braces every two weeks in order to gradually align your teeth for an even and beautiful finish. These oral appliances are durable, but they require maintenance just like your teeth and gums.
Read on for advice from your expert dentist on keeping your ClearCorrect aligners clean.
Remove Braces When Eating or Drinking
One of the benefits of ClearCorrect compared to traditional metal braces is the ability to remove the aligners when needed. Braces adhere to your teeth, which means you must adjust your diet so that you do not break any brackets or wires. With ClearCorrect, you do not have to avoid sticky, chewy, or hard foods because you should remove your aligners as you eat.
You should wear ClearCorrect for at least 22 hours a day, including when sleeping. But taking out these aligners while you eat or drink means that you do not have to limit your diet.
Food can also become trapped in your aligner and make it dirty or stained, so removing it during meals is crucial. This applies to drinking coffee or other beverages too.
Continue Good Oral Hygiene Habits
To keep your smile clean and healthy, you practice oral hygiene. A good oral hygiene regimen includes flossing daily, brushing your teeth twice each day, and visiting your dentist for routine teeth cleanings.
When undergoing ClearCorrect teeth straightening treatment, you should continue these habits. Lingering plaque and other residues on your smile can travel to your aligners if not removed promptly.
This can make your clear braces look dingy and negatively impact the way your smile looks while wearing them. The ability to remove the aligners when completing your oral hygiene routine means that you will not have obstacles to getting your mouth adequately clean.
Brush Your Clear Braces Separately
Though clear braces will not decay, they can still garner a film of plaque while in your mouth. If it remains on your aligners, they could become yellow or get other stains that will affect their appearance.
They can also garner bacteria which could heighten your risk of oral infections such as gum disease. If you contract this disease, you may need restorative dental work to amend structural dental damage. Adequate oral hygiene on both your smile and your appliances can prevent this problem. You will need to complete a separate cleaning regimen for your ClearCorrect aligners in order to have them looking and functioning at their best.
When you complete your typical oral hygiene routine for your teeth and gums, you can also brush your ClearCorrect braces. Gently brush them during this time and rinse them well before placing them back in your mouth. Avoid using hot water for this so that you do not warp your aligners.