Have you decided to undergo Invisalign treatment to achieve a perfectly straight smile? By wearing clear aligners, you’ll be able to improve your teeth alignment comfortably and discreetly, without the hassle of metal brackets and wires. You’ll also be able to enjoy all your favorite meals throughout the process. However, it’s still important to practice good oral hygiene to preserve your teeth. Read along to learn why flossing with Invisalign is crucial for your smile and the proper way to do it!
Why Is Flossing Essential for Oral Health?
While this step is typically overlooked or only done once a day, flossing is one of the most important parts of your teeth cleaning routine. It helps remove debris, food particles, plaque, and bacteria from the hard-to-reach areas between your pearly whites. This is especially crucial during your Invisalign treatment, as your smile will be covered with clear aligners for about 22 hours a day. If any harmful substances are stuck on or between your teeth, they’ll be trapped for hours until the next time you clean your mouth. This can increase your risk of decay, gum disease, and even chronic bad breath. For this reason, you’ll want to thoroughly floss after every meal.
The Proper Method for Cleaning Your Pearly Whites
If you aren’t certain about the correct way to clean your teeth while undergoing the Invisalign process, here are several simple steps you can follow:
Remove Your Clear Aligners
Whenever you eat or drink anything (other than pure water), you’ll need to take your aligners off. This would be the ideal time to soak them while they’re not in your mouth, which keeps them bacteria-free. You’ll then be able to clean your trays and your teeth before wearing them again.
Brush Your Teeth
You’ll want to brush your teeth after eating to remove any debris and food particles. While this can cover a majority of your smile, you’ll still need to clean out the small areas that your toothbrush can’t reach.
Rinse Your Mouth
This will help loosen and dislodge any debris and food particles in your mouth. You may even be surprised to discover how much was still left behind after brushing! Rinse your teeth repeatedly as needed.
Floss Your Teeth
Now that you’ve cleared out any loose substances, you’ll need to use dental floss to remove particles, plaque, and tartar from between your pearly whites. Do this by wrapping an 18 cm long strand around your fingers, leaving an inch or so to work with. Make a ‘C’ shape around the side of your tooth and glide the floss gently up and down, reaching underneath the gumline (being careful not to go too far down). After that side is finished, use a clean part of the strand and continue the process until you clean the rest of your smile.
Once you’re done flossing, you can put your Invisalign aligners back on while knowing your teeth are clear of harmful particles. By using the proper technique, you can effectively preserve your smile throughout your treatment process!
About the Author
Dr. James K. Kramer studied at the Temple University School of dentistry and has over three decades of experience. He’s a member of several groups like the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. He provides a multitude of advanced services, including Invisalign. If you’d like to know more about flossing your teeth during your treatment, visit his website or call 302-436-5133.