Orthodontic equipment is notorious for not only getting food and debris trapped within it, but also for causing a bit of a challenge cleaning it out. Thankfully, with Candid Pro clear aligners, you don’t have to worry about how to maintain proper oral hygiene, because your aligners are easily removable for meals and cleanings. But make no mistake, caring for your teeth, gums, and the aligners themselves is an essential part of your treatment. Here’s why it’s so important to maintain your oral health, and how to do it when you use Candid Pro!
Your Oral Hygiene Routine with Clear Aligners
One of the major benefits of aligners is that they come out for eating and cleaning. In fact, it is absolutely essential that you only wear them when your teeth are clean. No, that doesn’t mean that you can just not wear them since you don’t feel like brushing. You must wear your aligners 22 hours a day in order for your treatment to work correctly and stay on schedule.
Thus, you should ensure that your teeth are brushed and flossed after each meal or snack (and brushed after drinking anything but water) and before you put your aligners back on. Otherwise, you could be trapping food debris and plaque against your teeth for hours, increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease.
How to Brush and Floss with Aligners
Brushing and flossing with Candid Pro is just as easy as it was before your treatment began. The only difference besides the frequency of care is that you may have special buttons attached to your teeth to help keep your aligners in place. In this case, be sure to brush the buttons as well as your teeth, and floss around teeth they’re anchored to. Your buttons are only temporary, but if you’re not diligent about your brushing, they can easily become stained or discolored.
Caring for Aligners
In addition to caring for your teeth and gums, don’t forget to clean your Clear Pro aligners daily, too. You can do this by brushing them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste and rinsing them well before putting them back in. You can also clean them with the help of aligner or retainer soak but be sure to only use colorless products on them, as they could potentially absorb the color of a tinted variety, which definitely defeats the purpose of “clear” aligners!
Remember, though wearing clear aligners is designed to make care and maintenance of your teeth and gums much easier than traditional braces, it is still extremely important that you brush and floss regularly to keep your teeth and gums healthy and free of infection.
About Dr. Lam
Dr. Vincent Lam believes that the key to excellent oral health is making caring for your teeth and gums as stress-free as possible. That’s why him and the team at Seahurst Smiles strive to create a positive atmosphere for each patient that walks through the door.
If you’re ready to take control of your smile with the help of Clear Pro aligners, please schedule an appointment by visiting our website or call us today at 206-589-8556.