Clear aligners are one of the leading options for anyone seeking a perfect smile. For starters, they’re far less visible than braces. They’re also more comfortable than braces, and it’s also easier to maintain your oral hygiene with clear aligners. After all, you can remove them whenever you need to brush or floss your teeth.

So, how do you keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy when wearing clear aligners? Here are some top tips.

Remove Your Aligners Before Eating

Everyone wants to enjoy their food and eat well during orthodontic treatment but you should never eat with your aligners in place. If you do, small food particles can become trapped between your teeth and the aligners, which allows bacteria to start growing on your teeth. These bacteria can eventually lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Always remove your aligners before a meal. Carry a case with you so you have a handy place to store your aligners while you eat. If you have trouble remembering to put your aligners back in after a meal, set an alarm in your phone to remind you.

Only Drink Water With Your Aligners In Place

You can drink water without removing your aligners. However, you shouldn’t drink anything else, including coffee, soda, or juice, without first removing your aligners. Sugar from these drinks can get trapped between your aligners and your teeth, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Brush After Every Meal and Snack

Get in the habit of brushing your teeth after every meal and snack. Do this before you put your aligners back in, so you’ll be putting them back in over clean teeth.

If you attend school or work outside the home, this may mean you need to bring a toothbrush with you. There are some awesome travel toothbrushes with covers, which make this a lot easier. You can keep one in your desk, backpack, or locker.

Floss Daily

You should floss daily whether or not you have aligners. However, flossing becomes even more important when you have aligners since you don’t want to trap food particles or plaque between the aligners and your teeth.

People often avoid flossing because they find it uncomfortable, or because they have a hard time fitting the floss between their teeth. If you have these problems, there are a couple of alternative you can try:

- Waxed Floss: Waxed floss will slide between your teeth with far more ease than unwaxed floss. It should always be your go-to!

- Extra Thin Floss: If your teeth are really close together, you’ll have an easier time using extra thin floss. Your dentist may be able to give you a sample to try at your next checkup.

- Floss Picks: Some people have an easier time using flossing picks than regular, string-type floss. These picks are especially handy for flossing between molars.

The best time to floss is often before bed, since then you can avoid letting food particles sit between your teeth all night. You can also floss in the morning after breakfast, if desired.

Use a Good Mouthwash

Look for an mouthwash that does not contain alcohol. Those that contain alcohol tend to be drying and may make your mouth feel cottony against the aligners. Use this mouthwash after each brushing session, or at least once a day. It will help kill any lingering, oral bacteria before you put your aligners back in place, and it will also help prevent bad breath.

Rinse Your Aligners

Rinse your aligners after every time you remove them. Your dentist can provide you with a special rinse to use, but water will do in a pinch. This helps remove bacteria, saliva, and other contaminants from the surface of the aligners so you’re not reintroducing those things to your mouth when you put the aligners back in.

Store Your Aligners in a Case

When you remove the aligners from your mouth, be careful where you put them. Don’t set them on the edge of your plate or wrap them in a paper towel. Anything they pick up will end up in your mouth, compromising your oral hygiene. Instead, keep your aligner case with you, and use it to store your aligners every time you remove them.

Clear aligners make the process of straightening your teeth simple and comfortable. Follow these oral hygiene tips, and your teeth will stay healthy and strong throughout the treatment process. If you’d like to learn more about clear aligners, contact Rykiss Orthodontics to schedule a consultation. We’re your trusted orthodontist in Winnipeg with 3 convenient locations.