"Personally, I've found gentle liquid soap works surprisingly well for aligners without any residue."
I've heard a few people recommend liquid soap too, but honestly, doesn't that leave a weird taste behind? I tried it once and couldn't shake the soapy aftertaste all day...ugh. For me, clear antibacterial mouthwash has been a lifesaver—no film and feels fresh. Maybe it's just personal preference, but toothpaste always felt gritty no matter what type I used. Could be the abrasives like you mentioned, though I've never pinpointed exactly which ingredient. Have you tried mouthwash instead?
For me, clear antibacterial mouthwash has been a lifesaver—no film and feels fresh.
I've tried mouthwash too, but found it sometimes tinted my aligners slightly blue—awkward look, lol. Liquid soap never left a taste for me, maybe it's brand-specific? Agree toothpaste feels gritty though, always wondered if that's scratching the aligners...
I've wondered about the toothpaste scratching thing too... I asked my ortho about it because I was paranoid (first-time aligner wearer anxiety, lol), and she said regular toothpaste can actually cause tiny scratches over time, making aligners look cloudy faster. She recommended just using a soft toothbrush with clear antibacterial soap or even just water. I've been doing that, and honestly, my aligners seem clearer longer.
Also, about the mouthwash tinting—yeah, I had that happen once with a green mouthwash. Looked like I'd been eating candy all day, haha. Switched to a clear alcohol-free one, and no issues since. Maybe it's the dyes in certain brands? Anyway, glad I'm not the only one who noticed that weird tinting thing...
Interesting about the toothpaste scratching thing—I hadn't heard that before. My daughter's ortho actually recommended a gentle whitening toothpaste, said it helps keep aligners fresh and clear. We've been using it for months without any noticeable cloudiness or scratches. Maybe it depends on the brand or brushing technique? Totally agree about the mouthwash though... learned that one the hard way too, haha.
I've actually heard mixed things about whitening toothpastes and aligners. When I had Invisalign, my dentist specifically warned me off whitening pastes because he said they might cause uneven coloring on my teeth (something about the aligners trapping the paste?). But honestly, I used a gentle whitening toothpaste occasionally anyway—never noticed any weird patches or scratches either. Maybe it's one of those "your mileage may vary" situations... Did your ortho mention anything about discoloration risks, or was it just about keeping aligners clear?
