Yes! You can absolutely use whitening toothpaste to brush your teeth during your Invisalign or 3M treatment. Let’s dive in:
Using whitening toothpaste with clear aligners
Unlike traditional braces with brackets and wires that are attached to the front, visible surfaces of your teeth, clear aligners are removable. When you take out your aligners, all surfaces of your teeth are exposed! Using whitening toothpaste will whiten the exposed surfaces of your teeth.
With braces, whitening toothpaste will only reach the surfaces of your teeth that aren’t covered by brackets. This can reveal discoloration and white spots when your braces are finally removed.
There’s no worry about a two-toned smile once your clear aligner treatment ends. Just simply remove your aligners and brush your teeth with your favorite whitening toothpaste as normal!
What to know
However, it’s important that you do not use whitening toothpaste to clean your clear aligners. Use a non-abrasive, non-whitening toothpaste to brush your aligners. Whitening toothpaste can cause discoloration to your aligners and potentially damage them over time.
But what if I have 3M or Invisalign attachments?
Whitening teeth with Invisalign attachments or 3M buttons can cause a noticeable difference in the shades of white in your smile after treatment. Clear aligner buttons and attachments are small, tooth-colored bumps that are bonded to your teeth, so it’s best to wait until they are removed before using any teeth whitening toothpaste or product.
But not to worry! You can still keep your teeth bright and white with clear aligner attachments or buttons. Just commit to a thorough oral hygiene routine. Once they’re removed, you can resume your teeth whitening toothpaste.
3 tips for whitening teeth with Invisalign/3M attachments or buttons
- Brush your teeth after every snack and meal. Doing so before putting your aligners back in not only helps keep your teeth white, but stops your aligners from yellowing or harboring plaque.
- Keep your regular dental check-up appointments. The best teeth whitening with Invisalign is a professional teeth cleaning at your general dentist’s office. This removes plaque, stains, and tartar (a substance that can only be removed by a certified dental hygienist)…helping the natural white of your teeth shine through!
- Talk with Dr. Battle. If you’re considering whitening your teeth, it’s always a great idea to address this with your orthodontist, Dr. Battle. He’ll be able to recommend a safe, effective route that protects your smile and gives you professional results!
Still have questions about using whitening toothpaste during your smile transformation?
Our Premiere Ortho Team understands the desire to have a beautiful bright smile and we’re here to assist! Please reach out to us if you have any questions about using whitening toothpaste at any time during your Invisalign or 3M transformation.
If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in Orlando, FL, request your complimentary consultation today!
