Keeping Your Teeth Clean During Invisalign Treatment

Putting your Invisalign aligners back in after lunch can trap food against your teeth, even when your smile looks clean in the mirror. At our Marietta dental office, we recommend making brushing and flossing part of mealtime. A travel toothbrush and a small pack of floss make that easier when you’re eating away from home.

What to Do at Meals and Snacks

• Before your first bite, take out both aligners and put them in their case. A tray wrapped in a napkin is easy to throw away by mistake.

• With your trays in, stick to plain, cool water. Take them out for other drinks, including coffee, sweet tea and sports drinks.

• After eating, floss to loosen food between your teeth, then brush with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Rinse your aligners with lukewarm water before putting them back in.

If you’ve left your toothbrush at home, rinse your mouth well with water and rinse your trays before putting them back in. Brush and floss as soon as you can.

Give the Gumline a Closer Look

Set aside two full minutes to brush at least twice a day. Angle the bristles toward the gumline and use short, gentle strokes. If you have attachments, the small tooth-colored bumps that help guide tooth movement, brush around the edges of each one.

When you floss, curve the strand around one tooth in a C shape and slide it gently up and down. Then curve it around the neighboring tooth. This cleans both sides of a space your toothbrush can’t reach.

Clean the Inside of Your Aligners

Plaque can collect on the inside of a clear aligner, too. Gently brush the inner and outer surfaces with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. Avoid hot water, which can warp the plastic and change how the tray fits.

If the same spot keeps trapping food or your gums bleed regularly when you floss, call Marietta Smile Gallery in Marietta, GA, at (770) 809-1500 to schedule a visit. We can check the area and show you how to keep it clean as your teeth move.