You will find that by choosing Invisalign as opposed to traditional metal braces, there are many positive aspects you can expect to enjoy. Not only do you not need to worry about food restrictions, but it is also much easier to keep your teeth healthy and free of dental decay and gum disease. However, you must be committed to maintaining optimal oral hygiene, which means knowing the proper techniques for brushing and flossing with Invisalign. Read on to discover why it’s so important and how to ensure you’re caring for your teeth correctly.
Flossing With Invisalign: Why the Necessity?
While wearing Invisalign clear aligners to straighten your teeth, your pearly whites are still susceptible to cavities and gum disease. If you avoid regular oral hygiene habits, you put yourself at risk for serious oral health issues that can delay your treatment.
Brushing is imperative when it comes to removing harmful bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth, but if you want to make sure your smile is fully protected, you’ll also need to floss.
Plaque and tartar can accumulate between teeth throughout the day. Without the regular use of dental floss, it can transfer onto your clear trays, which can be a prime location for harboring bad bacteria. Depending on how diligent you are about caring for your trays, the bacteria can be passed back and forth until gum disease finally forms.
If you want to avoid delaying your Invisalign treatment as well as undergoing periodontal therapy to eliminate the bacteria and attempt to restore your gum health, you’ll need to be diligent about flossing.
Perfecting Your Technique: How to Floss Correctly
You may be wondering how you can effectively floss your teeth while wearing Invisalign. The truth is that it’s not too difficult as long as you take the time to do it right. First, you must understand that you’ll need to brush and floss after every meal, before reinserting your Invisalign trays. You’ll also need to clean and rinse your aligners to prevent any harmful particles from transferring onto your teeth.
To correctly floss your pearly whites, you’ll first need to use a 12-inch piece of dental floss. After winding each end around your index fingers, you’ll use your thumb and index fingers to gently move the floss back and forth until it reaches the gum line. Creating a “C” shape, you’ll curve the floss around each tooth before moving the floss down between your teeth. You’ll repeat this step until you’ve finished flossing your entire mouth.
You must never push or pull on the dental floss, as this can damage your teeth and gums.
Once you are finished flossing, you are free to reinsert your Invisalign aligners and resume wearing them as normal.
The process may be a bit tedious, but it is highly effective at preventing some of the most common oral health problems. Take special care of your mouth while allowing your Invisalign aligners to straighten your teeth for a healthier, more beautiful smile.
About the Practice
Indy Dental Group is a Gold Plus Invisalign Provider. Our dentists are skilled and highly trained to treat patients with Invisalign, which results in straighter, healthier, more beautiful smiles. Patients who come to our state-of-the-art facility for Invisalign can expect a welcoming and comfortable experience, complete with the latest in advanced technology. To find out more about our practice and expert team of dentists, contact us at (317) 846-6125.