Cleaning Every Space: How to Floss with Invisalign

If you plan to get Invisalign, you may already know it won’t disrupt your oral care. The treatment’s removable trays are famous for letting you clean your teeth as usual. With that said, you’ll still want to consider proper flossing as you undergo the alignment work. Practicing this bit of oral hygiene will ensure your smile stays strong throughout your procedure. So, please read on to learn how to floss with Invisalign going forward.

Flossing Matters to Invisalign

Invisalign trays don’t make oral care harder, but that isn’t an excuse to neglect your grin. It’s vital that you floss between your teeth daily as you receive treatment.

Don’t forget that Invisalign trays have a 22-hour wear time. Since they’re on your teeth so often, they can easily trap any “leftovers” clinging to your smile. This trapping would elevate the risk of cavities, gum disease, and other oral problems before the alignment process is done. If such issues occurred during your time with Invisalign, you’d face delays in your treatment progress.

The good news is that regular flossing solves the trapped leftovers dilemma. After all, dental floss can remove food debris from the tight gaps between teeth and break up nasty plaque. These effects would make harmful oral conditions less likely, leading to a smoother treatment process.

How to Floss Well with Invisalign

Whenever you floss with Invisalign, you should follow the proper steps. These are:

#1 – Take Your Aligners Off

As you might imagine, you need to remove your aligners before you can floss. It would be good to soak them in a cleansing solution during the flossing work. By doing so, you’d ensure the trays are clean and germ-free when you put them back on.

#2 – Slowly Brush & Rinse

Flossing is best done with other oral care habits, so brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash before starting. These extra actions remove plaque and food debris that floss alone wouldn’t (and couldn’t) remove.

#3 – Carefully Floss Your Teeth

As for the actual flossing, the process must involve the following:

• Wrap the ends of the floss around your fingers, all while leaving a few inches to work between your teeth.
• Glide your floss between your teeth and towards the gum line.
• After working the string between your teeth into a “C” shape, move it with an up-down motion.
• Until you’ve cleaned all the spaces between your teeth, repeat the three prior actions.

Knowing how to floss with Invisalign makes your orthodontic journey smoother. So, memorize the tips and tricks above!

About the Practice

San Antonio Smiles Dental & Orthodontics is based in San Antonio, TX. Led by Dr. Gonzalez, our practice proudly offers wide-ranging and comprehensive dentistry. Whether your smile needs preventive, cosmetic, or even restorative care, we have the knowledge and resources to help. Just come see us – our team will make your grin stronger and prettier than ever! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (210)-737-6900.