Invisalign and teeth whitening: how they fit together

Straight and white usually go together: most people who straighten their teeth want them brighter too. The good news is that the two treatments pair well, as long as they are done in the right order and with the right products. The two most common questions we get are “can I put whitening gel in my Invisalign aligners?” (no, and we explain why below) and “is whitening extra?” (not at Toothi: Boutique teeth whitening is included free with every Invisalign package).

This page covers when whitening is done, how it works alongside aligners, what it costs on its own, and how to keep the result.

No, and we would ask you not to. Invisalign aligners and whitening trays look similar but do different jobs. Aligners are made to fit tightly and press on the teeth; whitening trays are made with a small reservoir to hold gel against the tooth surface without squeezing it onto the gums. Put gel in an aligner and most of it is forced out over the gum line, where it causes irritation and whitens nothing. Gel can also stain or warp the aligner plastic, and any tooth with an attachment bonded to it will whiten unevenly around the attachment, leaving a visible patch when it comes off.

The right way is dentist-prescribed whitening, with custom trays or an in-practice session, timed around your aligner treatment.

At Toothi, whitening is normally the finishing step. Once your aligners are complete and your attachments have been removed, your dentist will talk you through your Boutique whitening. Then the retainers go in and the result is held. More on the final stages in how Invisalign works.

Toothi uses Boutique Whitening, a UK dentist-prescribed system. The gels are regulated, dentist-only strengths that are legal to supply in the UK only through a registered dental professional, which is the difference between this and the whitening kits sold online. Boutique is available as an in-practice power whitening session or as a home system with custom trays and gel used over two to three weeks. Both brighten the natural tooth; neither changes the colour of fillings, bonding, crowns or veneers, which is one more reason to whiten first and match any cosmetic work to the new shade afterwards.

Sensitivity is the main side effect and is usually short-lived. If your teeth are sensitive after aligners, your dentist can adjust the gel strength or wear time.

Every Invisalign package at Toothi, £1,495 Go Express, £2,495 Go or £2,995 Go Plus, includes Boutique teeth whitening along with your iTero scan, all reviews, refinement aligners if needed, removable and fixed retainers and an Airflow hygiene clean. There are no add-ons. Full detail on our fees page, in our Invisalign cost guide and on our teeth whitening page.

• ✓  Only water with aligners or retainers in. Tea, coffee, red wine and cola trapped under plastic stain faster, not slower. Take them out, drink, rinse, put them back.
• ✓  Brush before re-inserting. Plaque sealed under an aligner for hours is what turns teeth yellow during treatment.
• ✓  Keep the Airflow clean. It is included in your package and lifts surface staining before whitening so the gel works on the tooth, not on the stain.
• ✓  Top up when needed. Whitening fades gradually over a year or two depending on diet. A top-up with your existing trays is quick and much less than starting again.