Take the trays out to eat, and to drink anything except plain water. Brush your teeth before they go back in. Once a day, clean the trays gently with a soft brush, cool water and liquid soap, or with the method given by whoever made or prescribed your trays. Keep hot water, abrasive toothpaste and household chemicals off the plastic.
A daily routine
- Out and into the case. Each time you eat or drink something other than plain water, put the trays straight into their case, not a napkin.
- Brush your teeth. Use fluoride toothpaste before the trays go back, because a tray holds anything left on the teeth against them. The British Orthodontic Society asks for this after each meal.
- Rinse the trays. A rinse under cool running water before they go back in removes saliva and loose debris.
- Clean them properly once a day. Brush the trays gently, inside and out, with a soft toothbrush kept only for them, and cold water with a little liquid soap.
- Soak, if you want to. A cleaning tablet made for aligners is an extra, not a replacement for brushing. Follow the timing on the pack.
- Rinse and put them back. Rinse off any soap or soak thoroughly in cool water, then put the trays back on clean teeth.
Use cold or lukewarm water, never hot, which can warp the plastic. If your trays came with their own instructions, follow those.
Methods compared
| Method | How | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft brush, cold water and liquid soap | Brush gently, rinse well | Once a day | The British Orthodontic Society's method |
| Soft brush and lukewarm water | Brush gently, rinse | Daily | Invisalign's usual instruction for its trays |
| Cleaning tablets | One tablet in water to cover the tray, then rinse in cool water | Daily or as directed; Retainer Brite and VITIS both state 15 minutes | Extra soak for film and smell; check allergy warnings |
| Ultrasonic or UV device | Used with water or a tablet solution | Optional | Not needed for a good clean; use only if your clinician agrees |
| Toothpaste on trays | Not the usual method | Only if your trays' instructions or clinician allow it | One Invisalign page allows a small amount; abrasive and whitening pastes are made to scrub enamel, not clear plastic |
| Hot water | Avoid | Never | Heat can warp the plastic |
| Vinegar, bicarbonate, bleach or mouthwash soaks | Avoid | Only if your clinician tells you to | Not part of the published cleaning instructions we checked |
Three UK tablet products have their own pages: Retainer Brite, VITIS aligner cleaner and Fancymay.
Away from home
Carry the case and a travel toothbrush. If you cannot brush after eating, rinse your mouth and the trays thoroughly with water, put them back, and brush properly at the next chance. That is a stopgap, not the usual routine. After acidic food or drink, ask your dentist how long to wait before brushing. Never wrap a tray in a napkin; it is easy to throw away with the plates.
When something is not right
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Trays smell or taste unpleasant | Food or plaque left on teeth or trays; daily clean skipped | Brush your teeth before the trays go back in; clean the trays daily; add a tablet soak. If a bad taste or sore gums persist, see your dentist |
| Stains or yellowing | Drinks other than water with the trays in | Take the trays out for every drink except water; clean daily. Ask your clinician if a long-wear tray is badly stained |
| Cloudy or white film | Build-up of film, or fine scratches from scrubbing or abrasive paste | Gentle daily clean and a tablet soak can lift film. Scratches will not clear; ask your clinician if a cloudy tray is a concern |
| Warped, cracked or no longer fits | Heat, biting on the tray, or being dropped | Stop using a tray that cuts or does not fit fully. Contact your clinician before moving to another tray |
A tray that does not fit cannot move teeth as planned.
Heat and other habits that damage trays are covered in mistakes that affect clear aligner treatment.
Retainers
Retainers are cleaned in much the same way, and they last far longer than any single tray, so care matters more. Retainer wear is long term, and your orthodontist or dentist sets the detail. Clean a retainer as your dentist tells you; if you have no separate instructions, a soft brush with cold water and liquid soap is the safe default. What changes after the last aligner is in care after clear aligners, and how a home straightening plan runs is in how straightening at home works.
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Sources
- British Orthodontic Society. Aligner patient leafletAccessed 22 October 2026
- Align Technology (Invisalign). Week 1 versus week 2, page date April 2026Accessed 22 October 2026
- Align Technology (Invisalign). Cases for InvisalignAccessed 22 October 2026
- Align Technology (Invisalign). Invisalign treatment while pregnant, page date April 2025Accessed 22 October 2026
- NHS. BracesAccessed 22 October 2026
- VITIS Oral Health. Orthodontic daily regimeAccessed 22 October 2026
- Dentsply Raintree Essix. Retainer Brite instructions for useAccessed 27 September 2026
