Invisalign can be an excellent alternative to traditional braces; they allow you to straighten your teeth while still giving you the freedom to eat whatever you want. However, you need to make sure that you’re taking good care of your teeth during your Invisalign treatment, and that means making a habit of flossing regularly. Here’s a look at the importance of flossing with Invisalign and some tips for doing so.
Why Do You Need to Floss During Your Invisalign Treatment?
You’re probably already aware that you’ll need to take your Invisalign aligners out before eating. However, before you put them back in, it’s vital to ensure that your teeth are as clean as possible. If food particles are still lingering in your mouth, they can get trapped underneath your aligners, thus significantly increasing your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
Unfortunately, brushing alone isn’t enough to thoroughly clean your teeth. There are plenty of nooks and crannies that you simply can’t reach with a toothbrush. Flossing is the most reliable method for removing any food particles or plaque that are trapped in the spaces between your teeth so that they don’t lead to any oral health issues that could disrupt your Invisalign treatment.
How Should You Floss During Your Invisalign Treatment?
Obviously, the first step is to take your Invisalign aligners out of your mouth (which you likely already did assuming you’re flossing your teeth immediately after a snack or meal). After that, you can brush your teeth to remove much of the food debris in your mouth. It’s also a good idea to rinse your mouth with water in order to loosen any remaining food particles.
Once you’re done with the above steps, you can move on to flossing. Here are the steps for flossing properly with traditional string floss:
- Take an 18-centimeter piece of dental floss. (The extra length is to ensure you can easily hold the floss while you’re cleaning your teeth.)
- Wrap the ends of the floss around two of your fingers, leaving a few inches between them.
- Gently guide the floss between your teeth and move it slowly towards your gums.
- Curve the floss into a C shape before moving it up and down.
- Once you’re done with the tooth in question, move the floss between your fingers to a clean section. Then repeat the process until you have cleaned between all of your teeth.
Of course, some people have trouble using traditional string floss. As such, you may want to consider using interdental brushes or a water flosser instead. Talk to your dentist to see if they have any suggestions.
Straightening your smile with Invisalign can change your life for the better, but that can only happen if you ensure that your teeth remain in excellent condition overall. Flossing can go a long way toward helping you maintain good oral health throughout your orthodontic treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Darren G. Koch has over two decades of experience as a family and cosmetic dentist. He has plenty of experience with using Invisalign to straighten his patients’ smiles; one of his cases was even selected as Case of the Month by the American Academy of Clear Aligners. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Koch in Cary, visit his website or call (919) 859-6633.
