What Can I Eat With Invisalign®?

If you’ve recently gotten fitted for Invisalign® invisible aligners, you may be overwhelmed with information—caring for them, changing them out, cleaning them—all things that are important to the success of your orthodontic treatment! However, if you’re more familiar with the restrictions of traditional braces, you may have other questions, including what you can and can’t eat over the course of your Invisalign® treatment. 

In this blog, we’ll go over the dos and don’ts of eating and drinking while undergoing Invisalign® treatments so you’re ready for everything from social occasions to dinners at home.

5 Min Read:

What Are Invisalign® Aligners?

Invisalign® treatments utilize a series of custom-created clear aligners to straighten your teeth and correct your bite. They are quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional braces because, as the name suggests, they are nearly invisible. They also offer much more flexibility than traditional braces, as you can remove them whenever necessary. This is especially helpful when eating, as it gives you the freedom to choose your snacks and meals without worrying about popping a wire or losing a bracket. 

Cardinal Rules of Invisalign®

There are several guidelines when it comes to your Invisalign® aligners; however, two are especially important when it comes to food and drink.

Remove Your Aligners Before Eating

It doesn’t matter if it’s “just one bite” or something super soft: DO NOT eat with your aligners in. Eating while your Invisalign® aligners are in can damage the aligners, stain them, or trap food underneath them, leading to bacteria growth and bad breath. 

This goes for drinking as well. It’s okay to drink water with your Invisalign® in, but no other beverages. Coffee, tea, and red wine can stain your aligners, while the sugar from sodas and juices will sit on your teeth under your aligners and may eventually cause cavities.

Avoid Hot Drinks

While you should already be taking your aligners out before drinking coffee or tea, it’s a definite no-no to drink any type of hot beverage with your Invisalign® trays in. Besides the above-mentioned staining and sugar problems, hot drinks can warp your aligners, causing them to fit incorrectly and impacting your treatment.

Foods to Enjoy During Your Invisalign® Treatment

The good news is that because you remove your Invisalign® trays before eating or drinking, there are no restrictions around food or drinks. You can freely enjoy every crunchy, sticky, chewy snack you love (within reason, of course). However, this also means oral hygiene is especially important during your Invisalign® treatment. 

While it may seem like a pain to brush and floss after every meal or snack, it can’t be emphasized enough. Keeping your teeth clean helps to keep them healthy, as you avoid everything from minor annoyances like bad breath to more serious issues like cavities or gum disease.  

You should also keep your Invisalign® aligners equally as clean. Just like you wouldn’t put on a dirty shirt after you shower, you don’t want to put grimy aligners in your mouth after brushing your teeth. Rinse your aligner trays when you take them out of your mouth and clean them at least once a day with a soft toothbrush (no toothpaste—it can scratch the trays) to avoid bacteria getting trapped in the nooks and crannies. 

Tips For Navigating Mealtimes with Invisalign®

Now that we’ve established that you can eat whatever you’d like as long as you remove your Invisalign® aligners, let’s talk about how best to navigate meals and snacks. 

Stay Organized 

Everyone has probably heard of a kid who took out their retainer to eat lunch, wrapped it in a napkin, and accidentally threw it away in the cafeteria trash. Don’t be that kid. Carry your aligner case with you so you can put them in a safe place while eating (and also not sitting on the table in full view of other diners).

Create a Travel Kit

Putting together a small kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss and keeping it in your bag or at your desk will help you always be prepared to keep your teeth and aligners sparkling clean. 

Plan Your Meals and Snacks

If you love to snack, once you have Invisalign®, you might feel like you’re spending all your time brushing your teeth and cleaning your aligner trays. To ensure you have time in your day to do other things, planning your meals and snacks in advance (if possible) is helpful. That way, you aren’t constantly removing your aligners and putting them back in. This is also important because, as you know, you should be wearing your aligners around 20–22 hours a day. Taking them out to eat all of the time can prolong your treatment.

Stay Hydrated

While drinking water is always a great idea, it can be especially beneficial during your Invisalign® treatment. Your saliva works to manage the bacteria levels in your mouth, and since the aligner trays don’t let much saliva accumulate under them, your teeth aren’t getting the cleansing assist they’re used to. Drinking water can help wash away excess bacteria and keep bad breath and other dental problems at bay. 

Don’t Panic

If you end up forgetting your dental hygiene travel kit or don’t have time to brush after a meal, don’t panic. Clean your teeth and your Invisalign® aligners as soon as possible, and simply try to get in the habit of staying prepared. 

Learn More About Invisalign® in Schaumburg and Norridge

If you’ve been wondering whether Invisalign® is the right treatment for you, it’s time to schedule an appointment with the experts at Royal Dental Care. Our experienced dental professionals can guide you through the process from start to finish, giving you the gorgeous smile you’ve always wanted. To discover the benefits of Invisalign®, call us today at (773) 232-3929 (Norridge) or (847) 999-7620 (Schaumburg) or complete the online contact form.