When you first get Invisalign aligners, you might be tempted to see them as a dental cure-all. “They’ll not only straighten my teeth,” you think, “but also make my smile perfect, now and forever!” As such, you should feel free to sit back, relax, and let them do the heavy lifting.
Unfortunately, however, that sentiment just isn’t true.
Invisalign aligners will certainly improve your smile, but you’ll still need to work to take care of your teeth. In particular, you’ll need to be extra vigilant about flossing between meals while wearing them. That said, here’s a guide to flossing with Invisalign from Leesburg dental practitioners — its importance, and some tips on how to do it.
Why Bother Flossing with Invisalign?
The truth of the matter is that Invisalign aligners need to be accompanied by proper oral hygiene. Due to the fact that they’re covering your teeth for most of each day, aligners could allow harmful bacteria to accumulate in your mouth over time. (Especially if you have leftover food stuck between your teeth.) If not dealt with, said bacteria can cause gum damage, bad breath, and worse.
Flossing, thankfully, keeps these pesky elements from getting out of hand. As you might expect, it removes food particles caught in your teeth that would otherwise become risk factors for dental health. More than that, though, it helps to eliminate dental plaque — the sticky film of bacteria, sugar, and gunk that forms on teeth — before it can become tooth-decaying tartar. Besides reducing sugar intake and regular dentist visits, brushing and flossing are considered the best ways to prevent this kind of bacteria from causing significant damage to your smile.
Flossing tends to get a bad rap as a boring, tiresome chore not worth doing, even for people who don’t wear Invisalign aligners. However, when the alternative means a good chance of gingivitis, or even periodontitis, you can see that it’s absolutely the better option.
How To Floss with Invisalign Aligners
Besides the obvious (removing the aligners, brushing, rinsing), there are steps you can take to make the flossing process more effective. These include:
- Step 1: Choose a Good Brand and Length. The ideal floss is one that will glide smoothly between your teeth. A variety of good choices are available at your local market, including types that are plain, waxed, ribbon, or even mint-flavored. Experts recommend that one should use about 18 cm of floss, which gives you an amount you can hold properly during the process.
- Step 2: Wrap and Glide. Wrap the ends of the dental floss around your fingers will leave you a few inches to work with to use on the gaps between your teeth. Then, glide the floss between your teeth and slowly move it up or down towards the gumline, depending on which row is being flossed.
- Step 3: Curve the Floss. Work the floss between a given pair of teeth by creating a “C” with the floss and using an up-and-down motion.
- Step 4: Next and Repeat. After finishing one tooth, move the floss between your fingers to a clean section and then move to the next tooth. Continue this process until all of your teeth have been flossed.
Invisalign aligners may be a great tool to fix a smile, but you can’t just rely on them alone. You still need to clean your teeth – to brush, rinse, and, of course, floss!
About the Author
Downtown Family Dental of Leesburg is a dental practice based in Leesburg, VA, headed by the experienced dentist Dr. Jennifer Pham. Having earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from Temple University School of Dentistry, Dr. Phan prioritizes excellent care in her work and has undergone training at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, as well as courses in Invisalign. If you have a question about caring for your teeth with Invisalign or you’d like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (703)-666-3867.