What Can You Eat and Drink with InvisalignⓇ ?
Invisalign is a cutting-edge orthodontic treatment that uses clear plastic aligners to guide your teeth into the desired position. Our patients love that the removable aligners allow them to brush easily and eat what they like!
As with any orthodontic treatment, you should pay close attention to what you eat and drink with Invisalign to ensure you keep your teeth healthy and your treatment on time.
Carmen Orthodontics is a Diamond Invisalign Provider. This distinction means that we are experts in Invisalign Treatment and have more experience using Invisalign to create beautiful smiles than 99% of other orthodontists in the US. As the most experienced orthodontist in Central Ohio, we can provide you with the answer to the question, “What foods can you eat with Invisalign”?
Keep reading to learn more about eating and drinking with Invisalign.
Can You Eat with Invisalign In?
While there are very few restrictions on eating or drinking during your Invisalign treatment, you should not eat or drink while wearing your aligners. Removing your Invisalign before eating or drinking will prevent the trays from bending, breaking, or staining.
Bits of food, debris, and bacteria can also collect on or between your teeth, so cleaning your teeth before putting your aligners back in is essential.
What Happens if You Eat with Invisalign In?
Eating with Invisalign can create complications for your treatment, including:
- Bending, cracking, or breaking your aligners
- Discoloring your teeth
- Building food particles around your teeth
- Staining your aligners
Any of these may prolong your treatment. The best way to stay on schedule is to remove your aligners before eating anything.
What Foods Can You Eat with Invisalign?
You can eat anything with Invisalign as long as you remember to remove your aligners first! However, you’ll need to be more active in your oral health to keep your treatment on track.
Always remove your aligners before drinking anything other than water. The acids and ingredients in drinks like soda, juice, and coffee can harm the tooth and cause permanent scarring.
After meals, you must brush or rinse as soon as possible. We recommend traveling with a toothbrush, but you can also rinse your trays with water. Otherwise, the liquid from these drinks gets trapped inside the tray, damaging your teeth. A quick rinse with lukewarm will help remove the harmful residue these drinks leave behind. Make sure the water isn’t too hot because hot water may warp the aligner and push back your treatment time.
Additionally, you may experience temporary sensitivity when you first get your aligners and when you put in a new set. The tiny cells in your bones and gums break down and rebuild during treatment. Softer foods can help ease discomfort during this time, including:
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt
- Soup
- Eggs
- Oatmeal
- Soft Fruits
- Soft cheeses
- Soft vegetables
- Soft desserts
- Pasta
What Foods Can You Not Eat with Invisalign?
Though you can eat what you like, you may want to avoid foods and drinks that can discolor your teeth or get caught in your gums:
- Hard bread or chewy rolls
- Thicker pieces of meats
- Spicy food
- Chewing tobacco or related substances
- Blueberries, blackberries, cherries, pomegranates
- Pigmented foods, such as soy sauce, curry sauce, and tomato sauce
- Coffee
It’s also important to remember that sweet drinks and sugary foods can also collect on or around your teeth and may increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. A quick rinse will help cleanse the tooth of the lingering film and residue.
Propel Your Treatment by Knowing What You Can Eat and Drink with Invisalign
Patients love Invisalign because they can improve their smiles without changing their lifestyles. While you don’t have limitations on what you can eat, remove your Invisalign before eating or drinking and be sure to clean your teeth before putting the aligners back in. Practicing these good habits will keep your smile healthy and minimize your treatment duration.
Our experience treating people throughout Columbus, Pickerington, and Canal Winchester is unmatched. We will support you during every step of your smile journey.
Schedule your free consultation today to discover how we use Invisalign to give you the smile you’ve always wanted!