Invisalign Essentials
If you have Invisalign or are interested in getting them, this article will guide you on what you need to add to your list of essentials.
Invisalign Care Guide
Because Invisalign and clear aligners cover your teeth, there is more of a need for cleaning than you may normally be used to. When wearing clear aligners it is recommended that you brush your teeth following any meal, snack, or beverage. Most people will leave their aligners in while drinking water. Be careful leaving your trays in when drinking other clear liquids that contain sugars and other additives. If you can’t remove your trays while drinking clear liquors/cocktails or beverages, try to drink water or rinse your mouth and trays soon after. While this can be annoying in some cases (I am speaking from personal experience), it is vital to maintain the integrity of your teeth.
My Invisalign treatment plan lasted about a year and three months. The final step in my plan is wearing my retainers nightly. The items mentioned are the products that were helpful for me then and now. I can’t speak for anyone else. I can only share my experience and how these products benefited me. This article will be broken up into two sections. The first will be essentials at home and the second will cover the things you may want to carry with you while out and about. (Related video: What You Need To Know Before Getting Invisalign)
I do want to mention that if you purchase through my Amazon affiliate links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Invisalign At Home
Toothbrush
First up is a toothbrush. I hope at this point in your life you are already brushing your teeth regularly or have an oral care routine. If you have not or do not, it is about time you start. Invisalign will require you to brush your teeth more often.
I recommend getting a toothbrush or electric toothbrush that has soft bristles. Our enamel is very sensitive and does not require brushing hard or using abrasive materials. I’ve used an affordable sonic toothbrush from Dale Audrey over the past 3-4 years. It’s light, battery-operated, and has gotten the job done. I also have listed other toothbrushes that cost more but have excellent reviews.
Before Invisalign, I was more of an oil-pulling girly. Oil-pulling uses oils like unrefined coconut or sesame oil to pull out bacteria and dirt. If you have double-cleansed your face this is a similar concept. I used to oil pull for 4-20 minutes depending on the day. It worked well for me for many years. I’ve never had a cavity or any major dental work done aside from routine teeth cleaning and orthodontic treatments (braces and Invisalign). I stopped oil-pulling because I was scared that swishing coconut oil might cause the attachments on my teeth to fall off. This was an unrealistic worry since I ate so many dishes with butter, oil, tallow, etc.
If you have not heard of Invisalign’s attachments or buttons, they are little nubs glued onto your teeth to help move your trays more efficiently. Most people require attachments during their Invisalign treatments.
Transitioning from oil-pulling to toothpaste was a long process for me. I tried a bunch of toothpaste brands and I’m still not satisfied with the ones that I chose, but I did want to mention a few brands that could be helpful for you. I’m also spotlighting Dr. Ellie and her tooth remineralizing protocol. This is a remineralizing system that may be worth looking into pre or post-treatment.
Aligner Case
You’ll want to keep multiple cases for your aligners on hand. I typically kept one in my bathroom, one in my purse or work bag, one in my toiletry bag for travel, and sometimes one in my car. Do not. I repeat: DO NOT put your trays in napkins or towels or anything where they could be discarded accidentally. Clear trays are an investment and I would hate for you to waste dozens of dollars because you forgot to put your aligners in your case.
Floss and Water Flosser
If you’re someone who doesn’t normally floss, I would recommend that you start once you get Invisalign. I used to floss at least once a day before Invisalign, but by the time I started wearing my aligners, I was flossing up to 5 times a day depending on my eating habits. Honestly flossing that many times a day is not exciting. I found having floss picks and a water flosser was advantageous.
My Favs:
- YaFex Water Flosser – Portable/Cordless
- Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser for Countertop
- Cocofloss Woven Dental Floss
- Risewell Dental Floss with Hydroxyapatite
- DrTung’s Smart Floss – PTFE & PFAS Free Floss
- Up&Up Floss Picks
Top Rated:
Chewies
Chewies are small, usually circular, tools used to help seat your new trays. They are semi-tough at first and gradually get easier to chew over time. They are made of materials that are safe to chew with your aligners. Chewies come in handy if you have tight trays or need some relief with ill-fitting trays as your teeth shift. I used them the most during the first few days after switching to a new set of trays. I was on a treatment plan where I changed my aligners every seven days.
Nail FIle, Buffer, and Dental Wax
If you have any trays that are scratching you or are jagged, you can use a nail file, buffer, and/or dental wax to help. A nail file is more for prevention. Dental wax is used to protect your gums.
Tongue scraper
Another item you might want to consider is a tongue scraper. I’ve used them for over a decade, and they are more important to me than my toothbrush. A tongue scrapper is the perfect addition to your oral care routine. I have used both metal and plastic ones. My current favorite is by DrTung. Both of my DrTung stainless steel tongue cleaners have lasted over 2 years and can easily be cleaned in a dishwasher. I have one for home and one I keep in my toiletry bag for travel.
Probiotics
Oral probiotics or a good gut probiotic can come in handy. Both are helpful for your overall wellness. Oral probiotics may assist with restoring, improving, or maintaining your oral microbiome. Healthy teeth and a healthy gut are of the utmost importance.
Mouth Tape
If you have read the books I mentioned in my YouTube video on the process of choosing the right Ortho for your Invisalign treatment, you have heard me mention mouth tape. I’ve been using this brand for almost 3 years. It helps keep me from mouth breathing while I sleep. My sleep has improved greatly over the years. I owe a huge part of this improvement to mouth tape, breathwork, and relaxation techniques.
Recommended Reading
If you want to explore proper breathing techniques or alternative treatments for crowding, sleep apnea, etc., I would check out the book “Breath,” by James Nestor. Over the last three years, I’ve been diligently working on breathing through my nose versus breathing through my mouth, and the benefits have been slowly, but consistently progressing. My TMJ, my posture, the amount of air I can hold in my lungs, and my sleep quality, can all be attributed to the change in how I breathe.
While the items and resources I have mentioned so far are not always necessary, I feel they are important enough to look into or save just in case you find that you need them during your time wearing aligners.
Cleaning Your Trays
I took a natural approach when cleaning my trays. I used distilled warm water and vinegar or baking soda to soak my aligners. I soaked them for 15 to 30 minutes every other day. A small mason jar or mug will work perfect. I also used Briotech to clean them when on the go or in a rush. Soap and water are always effective. Just be aware of the type of soap you use and ensure you rinse your aligners well. Don’t discount the simplicity of using a standard soft bristle toothbrush to clean plaque and grime from your aligners gently.
If you’re not into more natural remedies for cleaning, you could also use aligner cleaners like Retainer Brite, Efferdent, or Invisalign’s cleaning crystals and foam. I have not used any of these cleaners. These are some of the products that have been recommended to me by friends, bloggers, and YouTubers.
Pain and Inflammation
I am not a doctor so I can’t give you medical advice on prescriptions. I did not require pain pills for Invisalign, but I did use a toothache tincture from one of my favorite shops, SubLuna. I also used ice and heat when necessary. And lastly, I would swish or gargle warm water and sea salt to help with inflammation.
Invisalign On The Go
The tools we need for Invisalign are the same whether in the home or out and about. The considerations you’ll want to think of are space and time. How much room do you have? How long will you be gone? When you are away from home you may want to bring things like: your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss or floss pick, aligner case, and chewies. In my opinion, it is more efficient to have multiple bags ready than to carry only one around. The constant moving back and forth might lead to forgetting your essentials. This is why I stated earlier that I kept 2-3 toiletry bags for my Invisalign necessities depending on what I had going on that week. Typically I’d have one in my purse, another in my work bag, and a third in the car. We also have to leave room for inevitable changes, ie. In the summer there was no way I was keeping toothpaste or hand sanitizer in my car. I live in the desert and it can get up to 120° in the summertime. Yikes!
What to Keep in Your Bag
You don’t have to have a special bag to carry these items in. You can opt for a plastic bag or a silicone bag.
Travel Essentials:
- Radius Tour Travel ToothBrush – Folds with Replaceable Brush Head 2 Pack
- Dale Audrey Sonic Toothbrush for Adults
- The Humble Co. Floss Picks – 200 Count
- YaFex Water Flosser – Portable/Cordless
- RiseWell Travel Floss with Hydroxyapatite – 3 Pack
- RiseWell Kids Travel Toothpaste – 3 Pack
- Crest Cavity Toothpaste Travel Size
- Unscented/Unflavored Chewies – 20 pieces
- Briotech Hypochlorous Acid Spray
Toiletry Bags:
Pul Tool
You may want to add the Pul tool to your list of essentials. This tool helps people who have trouble taking their trays out or difficulty gripping things. It’s also convenient for those with longer nails, short nails, or nails that you don’t want to damage. It came in handy for me when I couldn’t wash my hands right away or didn’t have hand sanitizer on hand.
If you want more information on why I chose Invisalign and what the first week was like check out these videos.
Do you have any Invisalign (or clear aligner) essentials to add to this list? Let me know below or shoot me an email. Wishing you all the best on your oral care journey!
With Love,
Lana
