Maintaining oral health throughout Invisalign Asheville treatment

Invisalign is a treatment we use in our Asheville practice to lead patients to their most attractive smiles. Throughout treatment, however, it is important to maintain awareness of oral hygiene so that teeth and gums stay as healthy as possible. The fact that Invisalign consists of removable plastic aligners does allow for improved cleaning processes. However, a bit of extra care is still in order for a beautifully healthy smile.

Brushing and flossing with extra care lead to optimal health of teeth and gums, as they are covered for most of the day by Invisalign aligners. Maintaining these practices on a daily basis, as recommended, eliminates tiny food particles and reduces the number of harmful bacteria that could lead to tooth decay and gum disease. As such, teeth are shiny and white, and gum tissue looks pink and healthy, not red or irritated. Brushing and flossing frequently throughout the day also leads to fresh breath.

Should bad breath begin to occur more frequently, or gums bleed during brushing, this is a sign that oral hygiene practices should be elevated. Brushing teeth should be a practice that is approached mindfully during Invisalign Asheville treatment, with attention given to all surfaces of each tooth. This practice should commence for a full two minutes, at least twice a day. Following brushing, flossing is the single most important practice that leads to the elimination of harmful bacteria, reaching them between teeth where they like to hide.

The extra care that is necessary during treatment with Invisalign from our Asheville office is that aligner trays should also be cleaned regularly. Most ideally, a new aligner will be gently washed with cool water before first-time wear. Aligners should also be washed and rinsed before replacing them after a meal. If teeth cannot also be brushed after each meal, the mouth should at least be thoroughly rinsed.

Aside from rinsing after meals, Invisalign aligners can be kept in their healthiest state by brushing them with a soft toothbrush each day during the oral hygiene routine. Maintaining this practice of washing aligners as well as teeth and gums will reduce the risk that bacteria may build up on the aligner itself. The appliance will also be less likely to become discolored or to develop an unpleasant odor.

Invisalign is a convenient and effective method of straightening teeth for an attractive smile. Keep the smile healthy as well, by maintaining good practices and visiting our Asheville practice for regular check-ups.