Your Clear Aligners May Be Shedding Microplastics
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/6/2026
That clear aligner sitting in your mouth right now? It might be shedding micro and nanoplastic particles straight into your saliva. You're swallowing them all day.
Dental Devices as a Hidden Plastic Source
A 2026 review in Quintessence Int looked at three types of oral devices: clear aligners, oral splints, and mandibular advancement devices (MADs). All three are made of plastics that spend hours in direct contact with saliva, heat, and mechanical force from chewing and grinding.
The review found that these devices release micro and nanoplastic particles smaller than 10 micrometers. At that size, particles can accumulate in organs. Lab studies show the wear and tear from daily use, temperature changes from hot drinks, and saliva chemistry all accelerate plastic breakdown.
Why This Is Different From Other Plastic Exposure
Most microplastic exposure happens through food and water. But dental devices sit directly on your tissues for 20+ hours a day. The particles don't have to survive your stomach acid. They're released right at the gateway to your bloodstream: the soft tissues of your mouth.
Experimental and epidemiological studies cited in the review suggest particles this small can accumulate in organs and trigger inflammation and immune responses.
What You Can Do
Talk to your orthodontist about the materials used in your aligners. Rinse devices thoroughly before inserting them. Avoid drinking hot beverages while wearing them, since heat increases particle release. For the rest of your home, reduce your plastic load with our non-toxic home essentials.
Also see non-toxic kitchen essentials for safer alternatives.