Invisalign Cleaning and Care

During my time researching Invisalign and reading a lot of blogs there was one thing I was constantly wondering about: what 'supplies' do people use to keep their Invisalign and teeth clean, both at home and on-the-go?

So I figured I would share what I use. Most of these items are things I have used before Invisalign and some are things I have acquired since starting. I am aware that it seems like a LOT of products but I definitely don't use them all at the same time and others may not find them necessary.

 Yes, yes I know 3 toothpastes seem extreme, however, the Pearl Drops Extra White is my everyday toothpaste that I use morning and night, the Colgate toothpaste is a newer one that I use during the day after I have eaten, and I use Sensodyne when my teeth are tender like they were the first few days of wearing Invisalign and after whitening as my orthodontist suggested.
I used Colgate Sonic Max White soft toothbrush ( or the Sonic 360 depending on which I can find at the time) also at the recommendation of my orthodontist. The small Oral B childs toothbrush (Disney Princess of course) that I used to clean my aligners because it's smaller and easier to get into all those nooks and crannies.
I like the Plackers floss picks rather than the usual floss that comes as a string. I use both the fine (blue packet) and normal (green packet) as some teeth are very close together and difficult to floss with regular floss, and others have gaps that are too wide to use fine floss.
As far as mouth wash goes I like the Listerine Whitening with Enamel Protection for everyday use and Listerine Total Care Sensitive after whitening and when my teeth are tender.

 As for what I carry with me, I keep it all in a River Island makeup bag I bought from ASOS. In it I keep a travel toothbrush, some floss picks, sample sized toothpaste (Sensodyne included since I'm currently whitening my teeth), a pack of two chewies to help seat my aligners better and also to curb my gum habit, travel sized mouth wash, some Cleanse. Freshen. Go wipes (purchased from Dentakit) to clean my aligners, and an Outie tool to help remove the aligners. Truth be told I have only used the outie once......when I had just painted my nails and didn't want to smudge them.
I also carry a case and a collapsable cup. I was given the standard blue and red Invisalign cases but there's two reasons I don't carry one with me. First, the black and gold one is slightly smaller and lighter, and I'm also worried the spring on the Invisalign case will break getting bashed around in my bag underneath weighty medical text books and my laptop. I got the other case from Smiling Box (also purchased from Dentakit).
I do still use the Invisalign cases though. I keep one in the bathroom and one in the car so I never have to take my aligners out and leave them anywhere.

To clean my aligners I use the Cleanse. Freshen. Go wipes when I'm out and about, and Retainer Brite each morning in a denture bath with room temperature water. Whenever I take the aligners out I try and clean them right away whether it be with the childs toothbrush and plain water or either of the above.
So far my aligners have stayed cleared and odour free which seems to have been a problem with some other people.

I have been using NiteWhite during the first set of aligners to whiten my teeth. I bought this from my orthodontist for $45 and have seen really great results using it. It comes as three syringes that you use to put a small blob of product into each section of the Invisalign aligners and leave for 4-6 hours (or while you sleep depending how long you sleep I suppose).

The only two things not pictured are a denture bath that I use with Retainer Brite and Tooth Mousse Plus. Tooth Mousse Plus was given to me by my dentist about six months ago to help strengthen some soft spots on my teeth.

Like I said before, some people may consider this to be an excessive amount of products purely to clean teeth but it's what I prefer. I'm extremely protective of my pearly chompers and do my best to take care of them.