doit, doit now!

Comment by Colleen

July 24, 2005 @ 7:43 pm

So, what happened eith the Efferdent Plus? Have you noticed the aligners becoming dull? Where are the photographs? We want to know - $95 sounds like bullshit to me too!

Comment by Lois

August 5, 2005 @ 11:49 am

I’ve only been using Invisalign for a week and was considering buying the cleaning sysem. For now I’ll just get some of the cleaning crystals and wait for your results. Thanks for the information.

Comment by Aron

August 24, 2005 @ 9:20 pm

So what happened to the invisalighn have you notice anything diffrent in them yet ,have you posted any pictures since then ? Do you like the efferdent better?

Comment by Tracy

November 1, 2005 @ 4:01 am

I’ve been wearing my Invisalign for nearly two weeks. They’re starting to smell like a dumpster. I was told to only use Soft Soap on them. I’m not paying another $100 for the cleaning system. Have you noticed any problems inside the trays using Efferdent??? I’m to the point where I use antibacterial soap…and I’m not too crazy about the after taste.

Comment by Joey

November 16, 2005 @ 1:25 pm

I’ve had my aligners for a week now, and, after only rinsing the first 2 days, I’ve been brushing them morning and night using a denture brush given me by my orthodontist and a mild dish deterdent (Method Mandrine). They seem to get really clean and I haven’t noticed any wear on them from brushing yet. My girlfriend does not notice a smell, however I notice a slight smell. But then again, I’m also hypersensitive to odors. It’s not enough to object to though. I recently ordered the cleaning system because it saves me time (I think your supposed to be able to just drop the aligners in and walk away) and, hopefully, will do an even better job. I figure, with all the money I’ve already spent on Invisalign ($5760) and the 11.5 months I’ll be wearing them, that it’s worth the extra money ($95, or about another 1.7%) to ensure that the aligners stay as invisible as possible and that they don’t smell or taste bad such that I feel bad kissing my girlfriend. I figure this might even be more important when I get to the end and have to wear the same aligners at night for basically the rest of my life.

Comment by Pearl

December 6, 2005 @ 10:13 pm

I clean my Invisalign aligner trays with Retainer Brite tablets. It’s a lot like Efferdent, but it was formulated for retainers and plastic aligner (or so it says). I’ve been using it for a few months now and it does a great job. The tablets aren’t very expensive ($12 for 3 months worth if you use it every day). It works really well to keep the white film off my aligners and they don’t smell bad anymore, ever. I bought mine at dentakit.com. I agree that the other one is too expensive.

Comment by John Boy

January 21, 2006 @ 9:09 am

I’ve been using Invisalign for about two years–I had some pretty bad upper teeth that needed to be rotated. Cleaning the aligners can be a biatch. A while back I purchased the electrical cleaning device from Invisalign (100$). Since then, I also bought several months worth of the Cleaning Crystals. I agree, this is a very expensive method. A while back, I also luckily discovered Retainer Brite. Like Pearl mentioned, it is cheaper. You don’t even need an electrical device when using this. I’m kinda lazy (or pragmatic), so I set up a routine. One day I use the Invisalign expensive ass crystals, and the next day I’ll use the Retainer Brite. This offsets ten minutes of scrubbing, que-tipping, or whatever that are spent in the morning and in the evening to clean the aligners. The Retainer Brite works very well at eliminating the odor. I haven’t noticed any discoloration or cloudiness. So, it seems to work well at keeping away the bacteria. The small Retainer Brite disk looks like the same material used to clean humidifiers–maybe. Also, someone might want to experiment with Baking Soda (Arm & Hammer). I love cleaning stuff with baking soda b/c it doesn’t have an odor. Hope this helps someone out there that doesn’t want to fork over the dough for the expesive ass crystals. I wisht I would have heard of this site earlier in my quest for a cleaner.

Comment by Alex

March 7, 2006 @ 5:15 pm

Im actually quite happy with the cleaning system….it has worked well for me, and much better than the denture cleaners. Im also lazy, so I think if I did some agitation with the denture cleaners that may help. But the cleaning system rocks.

Comment by Jennie

May 21, 2006 @ 10:57 pm

I use retainer brite tablets to clean my aligners. It works great and is a lot less expensive than that overpriced system that the Invisalign people sell. I got mine at dentakit.com. They also have a neat little sonic cleaner that is only like $10.

Comment by Andrew

June 2, 2006 @ 5:46 am

My dentist assistant who is also on invisalign just told me not to waste the money on the cleaning system. And to use just baking soda. About 1Tbsp of baking soda in a 1/2 a cup of COLD water let them soak while you are eating dinner or breakfast(or whenever you know they will have an hour or so to soak). Rinse and brush with a kids brush. It has been about a week and 1/2 on this set I will take a pic when I am done so you can compare.

Comment by pat

June 21, 2006 @ 5:48 pm

I just went to the Invisalign site to order some cleaner for my last two months of use. The “cleaning system” now consists of a “tub” (which they don’t show) and crystals for $75. Refill packets of crystals - 50 of them - is now $50. Much more expensive than when I last ordered as well as larger quantity. I’ll use something else for these last few weeks. I’ve been doing this for two years now - had a lot of work to be done! Love the system, but ready for it to be over with. Thanks for the discussion!

Comment by Katie

November 11, 2006 @ 10:16 am

EFFERDENT WORKS!

I used the Invisalign Cleaning System for about two months, but when my ortho wanted to charge me for more cleaning packets, I decided to give Efferdent a shot. I haven’t looked back.

I recently looked at the aligners I cleaned with the Invisalign system (1-4) and compared them to the ones I used Efferdent on (5-15). The Efferdent aligners are much more clear…it didn’t etch them at all. I use two Efferdent tablets a day…one in the morning and one at night. At the end of my two week cycle, the trays are just as clean and smooth as they were on day one.

Comment by will

December 14, 2006 @ 9:08 pm

I have been useing invisalign for 3 months.Its great becuase people don’t notice it at all.My girlfriend and wife noticed that I was having bad breath, so I decided to use the cleaning system. I really don’t know what was better becuase my mouth was smelling even worse. So I decided to quit the invisalign cleaning system and now my girlfriend and wife are happy.

Comment by John

January 18, 2007 @ 5:25 pm

I also noticed that they changed the price of the Invisalign cleaning system and now there’s just a tub, nothing with agitation. It’s still freaking expensive at $75.

I found Sonicbrite online. It’s a powder just like the “crystals” that Invisalign sells and it works just as well. I’ve been using it for a while and it isn’t dulling my trays at all. For 40 bucks you also get a nice sonic cleaning device too. Refils of the powder are only 10 bucks. You can buy it online, and some websites have free shipping.

Comment by Jordan

January 19, 2007 @ 8:53 am

Invisalign works. Period. Here’s the deal…buy the hardest toothbrush you can get and brush the aligners with warm water each time to take them out. Sure they won’t stay perfectly clean but it’s only for two weeks. Why waste money? Save the cash for the permanent retainer you have to keep clean once you’re teeth are in their final position. And if you want, experiment with your old aligners that you will never use again. Try mouthwash, efferdent, whatever you want. If they don’t get damaged, use that product on your permanent retainer. Or maybe then you can buy the Invisalign cleaning kit. I’m only on week 4, but that’s my plan.

Comment by Nicole

January 23, 2007 @ 9:25 am

I want to second the opinion on the sonicbrite cleaning product. I got it from dentakit.com and it works really well on my aligners. I’m really impressed with the sonic brite. It’s a lot less expensive than what invisalign tries to sell you with their crystals and I never have white buildup on my aligner trays anymore — my aligners stay much cleaner. Plus they give you a good sonic bath with it. I didn’t like using efferdent, it made my tray taste funny. The sonicbrite doesn’t have any flavor or scent and I like that a lot better.

Comment by Laurel

March 6, 2007 @ 2:47 pm

I am an unhappy Orthoclear customer who was forced to start using Invisalign. THere is no way in hell that I am spending one penny on this company after they forced Orthoclear out of business and jerked my orthodontist around the way they did. Orthoclear was a superior aligner. I am hating the new Invisalign sets I have to have in order to finish my orthodontics….—-as for daily care, with Orthoclear, all I ever did was brush them with a gel toothpaste in the shower in the morning and at night before bed. Orthoclear was a three week aligner, so you had them on a lot longer and they could get icky. My orthodontist said you could also soak them in about a teaspoon of bleach in a cup of water, then rinse really well. That deoderized them and I never saw any ill effects.
I appreciate the info on a sonicbrite for long term maintenance when I am done.

Comment by Nick Hodulik

March 6, 2007 @ 2:53 pm

Laurel, I don’t think Invisalign forced Orthoclear out of business. I am not exactly sure of the details, but from my understanding the guy who started Orthoclear was one of the original founders of Invisalign. He left Invisalign over some sort of kerfuffle and started Orthoclear. Invisalign had a bunch of patents on the process, and they sued Orthoclear. Orthoclear tried to maintain for a long time that “clear aligners” were an age-old invention and that they had been around for 60 years or something. In any case, from all appearances the guy in question really just started Orthoclear knowing that Invisalign was going to sue him and also knowing that in the long run that it would be far easier for Invisalign to settle and pay him what he wanted rather than fight it in court. It appears as if Invisalign knew this, too, and thus they fought him in an apparent dick-measuring contest. When they finally tired of it they settled out of court.

Again, I might be wrong about some of this, but it’s my understanding.

Comment by Mike

May 22, 2007 @ 10:02 am

I’ve used the Invisalign Cleaning System, SonicBrite, and Retainer Brite. The Invisalign Cleaning System works the best of the three since it gets the trays crystal clean. Retainer Brite does a good job but not as clean as the ICS. With SonicBrite, I noticed some residue and it’s a pain to have to use it with their vibrating device. I just wish that the ICS was cheaper. $1 per day (cleaning) is expensive in the long run!

Comment by Jennifer

December 2, 2007 @ 7:44 pm

I just got invisalign and have noticed the odor in less than a week. I got sick of brushing them with toothpaste every morning after I just did them the night before and I haven’t even eaten! When I had braces and got my retainer it was the same plastic material. All I ever used then was an Efferdent tablet. So, since you’re only wearing them for two weeks why not go with the cheapest. It’s just plastic people. Come on save your money for something better like a Starbucks coffee or splurge on clothing. Good Luck!

Comment by LT

January 26, 2008 @ 1:46 pm

Thanks for all of the info! I just got my Invisalign yesterday, & was also given a cordless came with it. These comments have influenced me to at least try Retainer Brite, before I spend much more money on the Invisalign crystals…

Comment by Fufa

August 9, 2008 @ 2:58 pm

Hi… I’ve been soaking my aligners in listerine for about 1 week now, and nothing had happened to them…
they are invisible as they were when i got them!!!
i dont want to pay $95 to buy some cleaning system or anything!!! listerine is the best way for me to clean them!!!! good luck everyone!!!!

Comment by Cindy

August 15, 2008 @ 8:16 pm

Insider tip: Retainer Brite is shipped in from overseas and is actually a repackaged denture tablet. Know this because a relative worked there. Don’t believe that it was reformulated!

We switched to RetainerFresh. Made in USA and soap free!