Braces are notorious for all of the restrictions they come with, but Invisalign can straighten your teeth without any of these limitations. Because you can take these clear aligners out of your mouth at any time, you’re free to eat, brush, and floss without your orthodontic appliance getting in the way. However, that doesn’t make oral hygiene any less important when you’re going through Invisalign treatment. To keep your smile in pristine condition, you’ll want to know how to properly floss with Invisalign, and you can find out more by reading on!
Why Is Flossing So Important with Invisalign?
Many people overlook flossing in their daily oral hygiene routines, but it’s a key component of maintaining a healthy smile. It’s the only way to remove food debris, bacteria, and other harmful substances from the spaces between your teeth.
When you have Invisalign, flossing arguably becomes even more important, as the aligners are covering your teeth for 22 hours per day. If leftover food particles aren’t cleared away after eating, they’ll have ample time to accumulate and increase the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems. Not to mention, you’ll run the risk of having bad breath and discoloring your aligners!
Ideally, you should floss after every meal or snack while you’re wearing Invisalign. However, once a day before bed is considered the minimum acceptable amount of flossing.
Tips for Cleaning Your Teeth During Invisalign Treatment
Here are the basic steps of flossing with Invisalign:
Remove Your Aligners
Of course, you can’t clean your teeth if your aligners are in the way. If you were just eating, they should already be out of your mouth. While you’re eating, it’s a good idea to let your trays soak to prevent bacterial buildup.
Brush Your Teeth
After eating, you should always brush before placing your aligners back in your mouth. However, there are plenty of nooks and crannies in your mouth that your toothbrush can’t reach, which is where flossing comes in.
Rinse with Water
Swish some water around in your mouth to dislodge any remaining food particles. You might be surprised by how much is left, even after brushing!
Floss Between Your Teeth
Now you can floss just as you would if you weren’t undergoing Invisalign treatment. Take a string of floss that’s about 18 inches long. Wrap the ends of the string around your fingers, leaving a few inches of string in the middle. Carefully guide the floss between two of your teeth, then create a “C” shape with the string and work it up and down to remove debris from the space. Repeat until you have cleaned between each of your teeth and behind the very back molars. At that point, you can slide the aligners back over your teeth.
If you’re having any trouble flossing with Invisalign, don’t be afraid to ask your dentist. They’re here to help you maintain a healthy and straight smile!
About the Practice
Huckabee Dental has been helping families in the Southlake, TX community smile for more than two decades and counting. Our experienced and skilled team of dental experts can treat nearly all dental concerns in one location, including misaligned teeth. We proudly offer Invisalign clear aligners as well as Invisalign Teen to help patients achieve healthy smiles without the hassle of metal braces. If you’d like some tips on flossing during Invisalign treatment, feel free to contact Huckabee Dental by calling (817) 329-4746.