Can I brush clear-aligner trays with toothpaste?

Yes — but it depends on the brand and how you do it. Some aligner makers (for example, Invisalign) explicitly instruct patients that they may gently brush trays with a soft-bristled toothbrush and rinse with lukewarm water, while other providers explicitly advise against using toothpaste because abrasives can scratch the plastic. [1, 4]

Quick takeaways

• Follow your aligner provider’s instructions first — guidance varies by brand. Some manufacturers permit gentle brushing with a soft brush and rinsing; others warn against toothpaste.
• Clinical studies find mixed, protocol-dependent results: specific toothpastes and gentle 60‑second brushing produced low surface roughness in trials, but results don’t generalize to all toothpastes or brushing forces.
• If you do use toothpaste, brush very gently and rinse; consider manufacturer cleaning products for deeper cleaning. [1, 2]

What manufacturers say

Manufacturer patient instructions differ. Align Technology’s Invisalign patient materials explicitly say to brush aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and thoroughly rinse with lukewarm water, and they offer Invisalign Cleaning Crystals for deeper cleaning. [1]

By contrast, at least one aligner provider’s patient recommendations explicitly warn against using toothpaste on aligners (icons and text showing a toothbrush+toothpaste crossed out) and recommend warm water and mild soap or dedicated cleaning tablets instead. [4]

What the clinical studies found

Randomized crossover clinical evidence on Invisalign aligners compared cleaning methods and instructed participants to brush gently for about 60 seconds. In that trial a whitening-toothpaste arm produced a statistically significant reduction in measured surface roughness compared with a regular‑toothpaste arm under the study’s protocol. [2]

A separate in‑vivo/laboratory hybrid study tested aligners worn by patients then analyzed samples after different cleaning regimens; toothbrush plus whitening toothpaste produced effective cleaning and low surface roughness for the products and protocol tested. [3]

Both study findings are protocol-dependent: they reflect the exact toothpaste formulations, brushing force and timing used in those investigations and do not automatically apply to every toothpaste or to vigorous scrubbing. [2, 3]

Practical takeaway and safe approach

Because manufacturer guidance varies and study results depend on specific products and gentle technique, treat your aligner provider’s instructions as primary. If your provider permits brushing with toothpaste, use a soft‑bristled brush, brush gently (the studies used ~60 seconds), and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. [1, 2]

If your provider explicitly says not to use toothpaste, follow that advice and use the recommended alternative (warm water and mild soap or manufacturer cleaning tablets/crystals). [1, 4]

How Smilo can help

If you want to keep a simple record of cleaning habits while you check your provider’s instructions, Smilo can log and remind you about regular-clean and deep-clean sessions for your trays, helping you maintain the cleaning routine your provider recommends.