Can You Eat With Invisalign? Check Out These Dos & Don’ts!

Overview

Invisalign treatment is the most popular orthodontic treatment amongst young teens and adults – at least that is what we have observed in the years of our orthodontic practice at Rome Orthodontics, which is now Brite Orthodontics. This is because, unlike metal braces, Invisalign is the most convenient and discreet way to treat your misaligned teeth.

But there are some basic rules which need to be followed regarding eating with Invisalign. And they are crucial to ensure the success of the treatment. Read on to know more about it.

Can You Eat With Invisalign?

No. You can’t eat anything while wearing Invisalign. In fact, you shouldn’t drink anything apart from water with your Invisalign on. Although they are powerful enough to move crooked and misaligned teeth into the correct position, they are not meant to resist the pressure of biting and chewing. You can eat and drink only after removing your aligners.

That brings us to our next section. You must know about some ground rules of eating during your ongoing Invisalign treatment.

What Things to Remember While Eating During Invisalign Treatment?

1. Don’t Forget to Remove Aligners Before Eating

   It is possible to forget to remove Invisalign before eating. This is because they are so incredibly comfortable that you get used to them as your natural teeth. Don’t make that mistake. It doesn’t matter that it’s a small bite or a full meal. You need to remove your aligner’s tray for everything you eat or drink apart from plain water.

2. Don’t Drink Anything Apart From Water

   Drinking anything other than plain water with Invisalign is as harmful as eating with Invisalign. The purpose of wearing Invisalign is to keep your treatment discreet. But this purpose gets defeated if your aerated or sugary beverage leaves a stain on your aligners. Thus only drink water with Invisalign. For drinking everything else, remove them first.

3. Follow the Process

   There is a process that you need to follow whenever you remove aligners for eating or drinking. First of all, keep them safe in a dedicated case after removing them. Then brush and floss appropriately before wearing them again. Otherwise, the remaining food particle from your meal will keep lingering on to your teeth and will generate cavities.

4. Think About the Healthy Side-effects

   This could be your chance of quitting frequent unhealthy snacking. The cumbersome process of removing aligners then wearing them again after brushing will help you control your temptations. These restrictions could be even better for you if you are looking to manage your diabetes, blood pressure, or trying to lose weight.

5. Clean Your Aligners

   It’s crucial to keep your aligners clean for the sake of your oral hygiene. The best way to clean your Invisalign aligners is to use Invisalign cleaning crystals. Your orthodontist might also recommend it during your Invisalign treatment. Some alternate methods of cleaning aligners are using cleaning soaks, soft-bristled toothbrushes, and mouthwash.

What Foods to Avoid with Invisalign Treatment?

You are allowed to eat everything after removing your aligners. But you should not eat everything during your ongoing Invisalign treatment. Here is the list of foods to avoid:-

• Sugary Treats

  Sugar causes cavities in your teeth, and unhealthy teeth can’t be adequately treated. Sugary gums can even damage aligners by sticking to them and reduce your daily time of wearing aligners.

• Hard Foods

  Food like candies, pretzels, and crusty slices of bread can further damage your misaligned teeth. Hard food items can even break the aligner’s tray. Therefore stay away from crunchy and hard foods till the time of your treatment.

• Aerated Beverages, Wine, & Coffee

  Don’t consume acidic and sweetened drinks like sodas, coffee, and wine. These types of beverages can stain your Invisalign aligners. Also, the acid and sugar present in these drinks cause tooth decay.

• Sticky & Chewy Food

  Your orthodontist will also suggest you not eat sticky and chewy food such as chewing gums items during your Invisalign treatment. It isn’t easy to clean them from the surface of your teeth. And sticky food generates plaque and bacteria if it remains in your teeth for a long time.

Conclusion

By following these simple rules, you can contribute significantly to your Invisalign treatment’s success.

Do you want to get Invisalign treatment for your misaligned teeth? You can give us a call now at our orthodontic clinic in Rome, New York. We will be happy to help you with our initial free consultation.