Getting straighter teeth is a big commitment. If you are pursuing Invisalign, they come with many benefits. However, as easy as these clear aligners are to incorporate into your life, you still want to maintain good oral health. It’s critically important not to let your usual dental care routines slide, especially when wearing removable Invisalign aligners. Today, we wanted to share a few tips with you. 

  1. Keep Up Your Brushing Routine

Be diligent about brushing your teeth after each meal or snack, as you normally would without Invisalign. With clear aligners, it’s also smart to give your teeth a quick brushing every time you remove them. This helps prevent cavity-causing plaque from accumulating under and around your Invisalign trays. Spending those extra minutes brushing will keep your smile shiny and your breath fresh. 

  1. Don’t Skip Flossing

You’ll need to floss at least once per day while doing Invisalign treatment. Because Invisalign fits tightly around the teeth, food particles easily get trapped around orthodontic attachments and other areas of your mouth. Help flush them out by carefully flossing under the edges of the tray and between all teeth. This removes plaque and debris that could otherwise lead to inflamed gums and tooth decay. 

  1. Watch What You Eat and Drink

You won’t have dietary restrictions with Invisalign like you would with regular wire braces. However, that doesn’t give you free rein to eat staining or unhealthy foods. Acidic drinks like coffee and tea can degrade Invisalign plastic over time, and dark-pigmented foods can discolor your trays to an unappealing yellow shade. You also need to avoid eating or drinking anything but water when wearing your trays. Crunchy, sticky, and hard foods can damage your clear aligners and potentially hurt your teeth if accidentally bitten into while wearing aligners. 

  1. Keep Up With Regular Dental Visits

See your dentist for a professional cleaning every six months as usual while undergoing Invisalign treatment. Your dentist will monitor for potential issues like tooth decay, gum inflammation, and cavities. These are all still possible, even if you can’t see them forming under Invisalign trays. Report any oral pain immediately as well. Staying on top of your checkups ensures your teeth and gums stay healthy as you complete the journey to a straighter smile. 

  1. Clean Your Aligners

Once a day, you’ll want to clean your aligners with a gentle soap and toothbrush. Those aligners can accumulate germs, and you don’t want that bacteria next to your teeth all day. Do a quick clean-up between wearings, especially after you remove your aligners to eat. 

To maintain good oral health during the Invisalign process requires some additional effort compared to someone not wearing clear aligner trays. But putting in that extra work means your smile looks brilliant from both the front and back when treatment is over. Consistently following these best practices will help your Invisalign treatment go as smoothly as possible from start to finish!

Call Arlington Dental today at 901-445-8144 for an appointment in Cordova, TN.