10 tips for the best daily clear aligner routine

You can admit it. You’ve paid to start your clear aligner treatment, but knowing the best way to ensure the quickest and healthiest transformation can seem difficult to figure out.

Lucky for you, we’ve got a great team at Impress who are here to tell you, from the moment you start your treatment, exactly which steps to take so you can see the smile you've been dreaming about.

If you've been thinking about the best daily clear aligner routine to help you get from that first aligner fitting to your final-stage clear aligner review, here's an easy, 10-step routine for you to follow. Why not add us to your favourites so you can come back to this article later?

We are all about oral health and orthodontic choices that help you put your best smile forward. Want to jump straight to the results? Take a look at our before-and-after results.

From prepping for that dream job, a reunion, a special occasion or wanting to improve your oral health by closing a gap that always gets food stuck in there–there are lots of reasons people start their journey with Impress.

How can an aligner routine help with Invisalign treatment?

We recommend a clear aligner routine you can use on repeat. The steps below make it easy for you to find a daily rhythm that works, making wearing your clear aligners simply a little step in your wider daily preparation.

Your orthodontist will be signing you off before you can say "Invisalign at Impress". If you're ready to get started with clear aligner treatment, you can skip ahead and book a free consultation with us.

If you want those tips, keep reading!

1. Brush your teeth: it sounds weird; we know. But you'd be surprised how many people don't do it as regularly as they should. 2-3x a day is the perfect amount – especially when replacing your clear aligner after meals. Start your routine by giving a deep but steady clean. Intense brushing isn't necessary and can actually damage teeth and gums. 
2. Floss: Whether you use interdental floss brushes, waxed, unwaxed floss or a water flossing model. Using it as part of your daily routine helps make sure nothing is lurking in your gaps that could cause cavities, tarnish or make your clear aligners wear quickly.
3. Mouthwash: Are you a special occasion mouthwash user? You shouldn’t be saving it for interviews and first dates. Implement the use of mouthwash daily for an added dose of oral hygiene, to help with rehydration and to feel fresh when placing those aligners back after lunch or on lazy Sundays.
4. Clean aligners: Give your clear aligners a quick rinse or a soft-bristled brush before putting them in each day. Depending on the time of day and the food you've eaten, you can clean your aligners in different ways.
5. Chewies: Those cute little cylinder-shaped Chewies are part of your treatment kit, and they do more than remind you of the stuffing in a gift box. Use them after your clear aligners are in to give them a little more accuracy with placement. There is nothing worse than having your aligner feel out of place. Chewies are your friend here; pop them in your bag before you head out.
6. Cheek Retractor: Use the cheek retractor – a plastic version of the tool your orthodontist uses at the clinic. You should use it at home to allow room between gums, lip and teeth. Using it helps you take more accurate photos of your teeth straightening progression, as it opens the mouth at the optimal positions to capture the evolution of each tooth's movement.
7. Upload images to the Impress App: We use an orthodontic tracking app to help our patients keep on track with their clear aligner treatment and maintain their busy lifestyles week-to-week.
8. Make-up, face cream, daily skin love: We advocate looking after all of you, not just your smile. So, however you normally prep for the day ahead, now's the time. Whether it's a special face cream, an accessory to finish your look, or a trademark perfume, don't skip the stuff that makes you feel more like you. 
9. Check your smile: Take a look at your smile and remind yourself what you're doing this for. Your health, an upcoming event, or to walk with your head held high.
10. Grab your travel case and go! Don't leave home without your travel case to make sure your aligner is with you and can be easily taken care of and safely stored on any occasion, from the tennis courts to a checkup at our clinics.

Invisalign® clear aligner treatment at Impress is pretty awesome. We give you everything in your aligner treatment kit; there's nothing we haven't thought about! From the digital Impress app to your responses from our medical team, we want to make sure your treatment is efficient and enjoyable.

Want to know more about the Impress App? It can help you through your treatment, and it’s an essential part of the weekly photo uploads of your smile. Our medical team review them so you can move on to the next stage of your aligner treatment plan seamlessly. Read more about the digital treatment app.