Table of Contents
- How To Whiten Your Teeth
- Best Whitening Options
- What Is The Best Time?
- How To Prevent Staining
- References
You can still whiten your teeth while using Invisalign or during clear aligner treatment.
You can use whitening toothpaste or mouthwash when you take your trays out to clean your teeth or use low-dose whitening gels during the time that your Invisalign trays are out of your mouth.
Your teeth are moving during Invisalign treatment, so it is often recommended to wait until after treatment is completed to use a stronger, prescription teeth whitening product.
How To Whiten Your Teeth During Invisalign or Aligner Treatment
Invisalign trays are not the same thing as tooth whitening trays. Invisalign trays fit tighter than teeth whitening trays and can cause the gel to squeeze out into your mouth instead of staying on your teeth.
However, there are whitening agents that are made specifically for aligners that use a foam cleanser instead of gel to whiten your teeth during aligner treatment.
There are tooth whitening products that do not require trays, such as whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes. You can also use over-the-counter tooth whitening gels during the time you are not required to wear your aligners.
But remember, you are meant to wear your aligners for the majority of the day, usually around 22 hours.
Best Whitening Options While Using Aligners
If you want to whiten your teeth while using Invisalign or at-home aligner treatment, you should talk to your dentist to determine what products they recommend for you specifically.
Over-the-counter whitening products have a lower concentration of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide (the bleaching agent). They are typically more suitable for teeth whitening during aligner treatment.
Whitening product options include the following:
Whitening toothpaste
Whitening mouthwash
Whitening gel
BrightByte: This foam cleanser can go directly into your aligner trays to clean your trays, freshen your breath, and whiten your teeth.
There are other products, such as teeth whitening strips and pens, but these can be trickier to use with aligners.
What Is The Best Time To Whiten Your Teeth During Treatment?
Dental professionals often recommend waiting until after your Invisalign treatment is complete before whitening your teeth. This is because your teeth are moving during treatment, which can cause certain parts of your teeth to be missed during the whitening process if you do it too early.
One of the biggest potential side effects of teeth whitening is tooth sensitivity. Your teeth are often already more sensitive during aligner treatment, so the discomfort may be compounded.
If you do decide to whiten your teeth while using aligners, whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes are often good choices. You can use them when you take out your aligner trays to brush and clean your teeth.
You can also use low-dose whitening gels with the accompanying whitening trays during the time of day you are not wearing your clear teeth aligners. Or you can choose a whitening product that is specifically designed to be used with your aligner trays.
How To Prevent Staining While Using Invisalign or Aligners
When using aligners, it is important to properly clean your teeth and aligner trays to help prevent tooth staining.
You need to make sure that you brush and floss your teeth thoroughly after eating and before replacing the aligner trays. Failure to do so can cause food to become trapped. The longer food stays on your teeth, the more likely it is to stain.
Mouthwash and water flossers can help to completely clean your teeth as well.
You should also work to minimize food and drinks that have the potential to stain your teeth, such as red wine, barbeque sauce, and coffee.
Drink plenty of water to wash away food residue. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of swishing water around your mouth after eating, even if it’s just a snack.
Make sure you get your teeth professionally cleaned. Keep up with your dental appointments to prevent issues with your teeth, including staining.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to serve as dental or other professional health advice and is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any condition or symptom. You should consult a dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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