Invisalign clear aligners give you great freedom for eating and drinking whatever you like compared to traditional metal braces. This guide will cover some of the most frequently asked questions about eating and drinking with Invisalign.
Can you eat with Invisalign?
Yes, you can eat whatever you like while getting Invisalign treatment, as long as you remove the aligners before eating. Even though aligners are strong enough to be in your mouth all day, they will quickly crack and stain if you try eating food with them in your mouth.
Can you drink with Invisalign?
Yes, you can drink whatever you would like as long as you take your aligners out. You should only drink water while wearing your Invisalign aligners.
The reason is that sugary or acidic drinks (like sodas or lemon water) will go under your aligners and cause tooth decay or damage to your tooth enamel. On the other hand, drinking colored beverages (like black coffee or tea) will cause hard-to-remove brown and black staining in your trays.
Can I wear Invisalign while eating?
No. If you want to eat, you must take your clear aligners out, place them somewhere safe and eat whatever you would like. When you are done, just brush your teeth and put them back in.
As annoying as it sound, you will find that very quickly you will stop snacking between meals, and you will be drinking more water than before. Many people even report significant weight loss due to the reduced snacking during Invisalign treatment.
Why is it bad to eat with Invisalign?
Eating and drinking while wearing your trays can cause problems with both your clear trays and your teeth. Clear trays are not designed to handle the constant chewing motion, and they can get food stuck inside, leading to cavities, gum disease and bad breath. Also, Invisalign trays will easily pickup stain from colored foods.
Some of the biggest offenders are the following:
- hard foods and crunchy foods that can crack your aligners (pizza crust)
- acidic or sugary foods that can lead to cavities (sodas, snacks)
- sticky foods or snacks that will stick to your aligners (do not chew gum!)
Additionally, cavities and enamel wear as a result of sugar and acidic food and drink consumption is very difficult to repair, since it usually involves damage to many teeth at once. For that reason, it is best to only drink water while wearing Invisalign.
What happens if I eat with Invisalign in?
Eating food while wearing aligners can damage both your aligners and your teeth. Either outcome will delay your Invisalign treatment, since replacements will usually cost you $50-100 each from your Invisalign provider and can take several weeks to be remade, while treatment for cavities and gum disease can cost much more.
How do you eat at restaurants with Invisalign?
To eat at restaurants, it is best to excuse yourself to the bathroom, take out your clear aligners and place them in a safe place, such as the carrying case. Do not place them in a paper towel, in your pocket or leave them next to your plate, since that is the most common way of losing them.
After your meal is over, you might want to wait until you return home to be able to brush (and floss) your teeth and put your aligners back in. Or, if you prefer, a travel toothbrush and toothpaste can be an easy way to brush your teeth while on-the-go. Once you get used to this routine, you will find that eating at restaurants is no problem at all.
Where do you put Invisalign when eating?
You should always put your clear aligners in their carrying case. Never place them in a paper towel, your pocket or just leave them laying around - that is a sure way to lose them.
It is usually a good idea to order a few extra spare retainer cases to always have one handy when you need one. You can get them yourself from Amazon by searching for "retainer case". Both the fancier, brand-name Invisalign case or the plain generic one will work well.
What can I drink with Invisalign?
You should only drink water while wearing clear aligners. If you want to drink something other than water, you should take your aligners out first, then rinse your mouth well before you put them back in.
Can you drink coffee with Invisalign?
Yes, but you need to remove the clear trays first. While coffee is by itself not bad for your teeth, it can lead to problems when it gets under your aligners. Drinking coffee while wearing aligners can cause:
- stains on the aligners and teeth
- change of shape to your invisible aligners (like any hot drinks)
- enamel damage (coffee is acidic)
- tooth decay (if it has sugar)
Can you drink water with Invisalign?
Yes, plain water is the only beverage you should be drinking with your clear aligners in your mouth. Also, remember that hot water can distort your aligners and make them not fit well, so it is better to stay with cold or lukewarm water at most.
Can you drink tea with Invisalign?
Yes, as long as you take your aligners out first. Tea can cause a lot of stain on your teeth and trays very, very quickly, and the stains are very hard to remove.
Can you drink wine with Invisalign?
Yes, but you must take your aligners out first. Red wine will immediately turn your trays from practically invisible to dark red. Even white wine, which doesn't really cause staining, is also a bad idea because wine is very acidic and it can damage your teeth when it gets under your aligners.
Can you drink lemon water with Invisalign?
Yes, but you must take them out first. That said, it is better to steer clear from lemon water in general. Lemon water, just like lemon juice, is a bad idea for your teeth, since it will soften a thin layer of your enamel, which will be lost when you brush your teeth or eat something.
What can you eat when you first get Invisalign?
Just like traditional braces or any other orthodontic treatment, clear aligners will make your teeth a bit sore for the first week or so. We usually recommend eating softer foods the first couple days, but feel free to transition to a normal diet as your teeth get used to the treatment. Just make to get your teeth clean before putting your trays back in.
Do you get used to eating with Invisalign attachments?
Yes, after a couple days. When you first start treatment and get attachments placed, you will find them slightly annoying but not really uncomfortable. Thankfully, it only takes a day or two for your cheeks and tongue to get used to them. Attachments are not usually sharp, but your tongue will get sore if you keep playing with them.
Conclusion
Invisalign aligners allow you much greater freedom to eat and drink compared to other orthodontic treatment options. Just remember to take them out every meal or snack, then brush and floss before putting them back in.
Also, remember that you can only drink water with your aligners in your mouth. For any other beverages, just take them out before and rinse your mouth (or brush) before you put them back in.
