The Do’s and Dont’s of Eating With Invisalign Aligners

 

 

Recent statistics tell us that over four million Americans wear braces. One-quarter of those Americans are adults.

Further, many Americans prefer to use Invisalign over traditional braces to treat teeth that are out of place or to treat those with a misaligned jaw. If you are interested in treatment for your teeth and opting for the Invisalign solution, you may wonder the same thing that everyone else does when getting started.

Can you eat with Invisalign? Of course, Invisalign will not prevent you from the daily nutrition you need, but there are recommendations about what you can and cannot do while eating.

Ready for eating with Invisalign? Let’s dive into a few necessary details you will need to know when getting this amazing treatment.

Food and Invisalign

The good news about Invisalign retainers is that you can eat whatever you like to eat. Further, you can always eat anytime you desire to eat.

While this is an enormous benefit of choosing Invisalign, you also don’t want to harm the orthodontic treatment you are getting. This means that you still need to follow a few rules to keep on the road toward a better-looking smile.

Do Remove Trays

While you can eat whatever your heart desires, it still matters how you eat. The number one rule of eating with Invisalign aligners is that you remove them before every meal, snack, and beverage.

When you have your trays in, the only thing that you can consume is water. Otherwise, any chewing or force biting might break your trays. They could also become discolored or smell bad.

Further, you risk tooth decay if the food particles become caught between your teeth and your Invisalign aligners.

Don’t Snack Too Much

Again, while there are no specific food restrictions with Invisalign, the best rule you always hear is that everything should be in moderation. If you love to snack, you will need to choose a cadence that still allows you to remove the Invisalign aligners for meals, too, but also accommodates the duration you must wear them for the day.

You must wear Invisalign trays 20 to 22 hours per day.

Less snacking is better for your treatment, but it can also help you live a healthier diet too. There are more reasons than just one to cut down on snacks.

Do Brush After Each Meal

Every morning and every night, it is necessary to brush your teeth and your Invisalign aligners. However, the best recommendation on how to care for Invisalign trays is to brush throughout the day, too. This includes after every meal, before putting your aligner back in.

Get in the habit of caring a small travel dental care kit with you throughout your daily routine.

Don’t Chew Gum

Again, you can chew, but not with your Invisalign aligners in your mouth. If you want to chew gum, you must remove them. Otherwise, sticky gum will damage your aligner and can compromise the alignment treatment you are working toward.

Do Be Careful With Coffee

If you love coffee in the morning, that is okay, you just want to keep a good routine. Drink your coffee while you eat breakfast, and your tray is out. However, if you are a person who prefers sipping coffee throughout the day, you will need to put that on hold until you complete your Invisalign treatment.

Coffee stains the trays. If you are choosing Invisalign because of how they look, then having coffee stains on them will certainly be the opposite of your expectations. You may just need to change up your coffee routine, is all.

Don’t Binge on Sugary Foods

We have discussed in length that you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want, with Invisalign retainers. However, it is still not good for your teeth or your health to overdo sweet and sticky foods. These types of food still damage your teeth.

You are choosing Invisalign to fix your teeth and give you the beautiful smile you dream of. If you are still engaging in bad habits that will damage your teeth anyway, this is only doing you a disservice.

Do Store Invisalign Aligners in Its Case Only

The Invisalign retainer is transparent, so if you leave them loose somewhere, it’s hard to see them. You could end up damaging it without realizing it. With your Invisalign aligner, you will also get a case that is dedicated to your trays.

Whenever you remove your trays, no matter how briefly you plan to leave them out, always put them in your case. Not only will you save them from damage, but they are also less likely to get lost or collect germs.

Do Not Use Harsh Products to Clean Invisalign Retainers

A strong toothbrush could scratch your aligners, and scratches are easy to see when they are in your mouth. Also, avoid any cleaners with a scent.

There is a product that is specific for cleaning Invisalign aligners, and this is what you should use. They are Invisalign cleaning crystals.

Can You Eat With Invisalign?

In conclusion, if you have been asking, “Can you eat with Invisalign?” The answer is yes.

You can absolutely eat with Invisalign, and you can eat whatever you want, but you must do so within set guidelines. This article gives you the dos and don’ts so that you know how food and Invisalign work together.

For more tips that can give you a brighter smile, even just by giving you a laugh or smile, don’t leave us. We live to brighten your day! Keep clicking on more great health tips and ways to live as a better, happier you!