Since Invisalign trays are removable, they shouldn’t get in the way of your oral care. Your aligner journey will let you clean your teeth as easily as ever! Still, you must floss properly during the treatment process; you’ll likely face complications otherwise. The good news is that your local Huntsville dentist can provide you with helpful pointers. To that end, keep reading to learn why flossing with Invisalign matters and how to do it well.
Wait, Why Bother Flossing with Invisalign?
While Invisalign doesn’t make oral hygiene harder, that doesn’t mean you can slack off. You should still floss between your teeth daily while you undergo the treatment.
Remember, Invisalign requires that you wear aligners 22 hours a day. It puts your smile at risk of harmful bacteria when its trays keep “leftovers” clinging to your teeth. From there, you could suffer cavities or gum disease before the smile-straightening process has finished. Addressing those issues would delay your overall treatment progress.
Thankfully, regular flossing can keep unaligned, overlapping teeth clean. That’s only natural – it removes leftover food from tight gaps in your smile and breaks up nasty plaque. These effects reduce your odds of an oral problem interrupting, delaying, or halting your Invisalign journey.
How to Properly Floss with Invisalign
Of course, you’ll need to floss properly to enjoy its benefits. Remember to use these tips next time you clean your smile:
#1 – Remove Your Aligners
Naturally, you’ll need to remove your aligners before you can floss. Please soak them while you eat to ensure they’re clean and germ-free afterward.
#2 – Brush & Rinse
Flossing most helps when it’s done with other good oral habits. So, remember to brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash before you try it. These extra actions will remove food particles that floss alone can’t reach.
#3 – Floss Your Teeth
While flossing may look simple, it comprises multiple steps you should closely follow. The overall process should look like this:
- While leaving a few inches to work between your teeth, wrap the ends of the floss around your fingers.
- Glide your floss between your pearly whites and up towards the gum line.
- Work the string between them into a “C” shape and use an up-down motion.
- Repeat the three earlier steps until you’ve cleaned all your teeth.
If you want a straight smile as soon as possible, flossing with Invisalign is essential. Consider asking your dental provider about other tips related to it.
About the Practice
Northwest Family Dental of Huntsville is based in Huntsville, OH. Led by Dr. Kevin Grill, our practice takes pride in offering quality dentistry that meets families’ needs. We perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, as well as emergency dental care. Our office is also a certified provider of Invisalign clear aligners that align teeth! For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (937)-843-3932.