Eating and Drinking with Invisalign

This blog post will cover everything you need to know about eating habits when having Invisalign, the foods to avoid, and how to take care of the aligners and your teeth. Whether you are a beginner to Invisalign treatment or want to know how to make the most of it, this guide lists the many things you should not do while wearing Invisalign and the foods and beverages you should not consume. 

Foods to Avoid with Invisalign 

There are foods that are not good for your aligners; they can stain them or cause more cavities. Here’s a detailed list of foods to avoid while undergoing Invisalign treatment: 

Hard Foods  

• Nuts and Seeds: These are rather hard to chew and may cause cracking or damage to the aligners.  
• Hard Candies: Apart from being dangerous to your aligners, they cause tooth decay if the sugar stays on your teeth for a long time.  
• Crunchy Snacks: Chips, pretzels, popcorn and other hard foods can be unfriendly to your teeth and might harm your aligners.  

Sticky Foods  

• Gum: Sweets and chewing gum are not good for the aligners since they are hard to remove from the aligners.  
• Caramel and Taffy: These sticky foods can easily stick to your teeth and aligners and can be difficult to remove and clean, thereby potentially causing cavities.  
• Chewy Candy: Sweets like gummy bears, licorice, and fruit chews are likely to cling to the aligners and teeth, making them hard to clean.  

Foods that Can Stain Aligners  

• Tomato-Based Sauces: Marinara sauce and salsa are some examples of foods that can stain your teeth and, at the same time, the aligners.  
• Berries: We have the blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries which are among the fruits that have the potential of staining your aligners.  
• Curries and Spices: Some spices and especially curries, which tend to have strong colors, may cause the food to get this color after some time.  

Sugary Foods  

• Sweets and Desserts: Sweets such as cakes, cookies, and other sweet products can cause cavities because sugar remains between teeth and aligners.  

• Soda and Energy Drinks: These are sweetened beverages, and they cause tooth decay. They can also be acidic, and this causes the wearing away of the tooth enamel. 

Safe Foods to Eat with Invisalign 

During the Invisalign treatment, the trick lies in choosing foods that are tender, do not leave stains, and can be easily washed off the teeth. Here’s a list of safe foods to enjoy while undergoing Invisalign treatment:  

Dairy Products  

• Yogurt: It is soft and easy on the teeth, and it also has aspects of probiotics that are good for the teeth.  
• Cheese: Soft cheeses do not put a lot of pressure on the teeth and therefore they will not harm your aligners.  

Cooked Vegetables  

• Steamed or Boiled Vegetables: The beans, carrot, broccoli spinach and other vegetables are soft when cooked making it easier to chew.  
• Mashed Potatoes: A soothing type of fabric that also does not harm your teeth in any way.  

Soft Fruits 

• Bananas: Soft and does not require a lot of biting force to consume, does not leave stains on the aligners.  
• Berries: You can pick strawberries and blueberries; however, you should brush your teeth after this as it may stain your teeth.  

Grains and Pasta 

• Pasta and Noodles: Pasta is tender and not hard on the teeth to chew; however, one must be careful with the sauces that may color the teeth.  
• Rice and Quinoa: These are very soft on the teeth and trays used in aligners.  

Non-Staining Foods  

Lean Proteins 

• Chicken and Fish: These are usually soft and do not have the impact of staining your teeth.  
• Tofu: An all-purpose and tender protein ingredient that is not hard to chew and does not stain teeth. 

Eggs 

Scrambled or Boiled Eggs: Nonetheless, given the fact that eggs are easy to prepare and healthy, they can be incorporated in the diet of those using Invisalign.  

Smoothies 

Fruit and Vegetable Smoothies: You can still enjoy nutritious smoothies without compromising your Invisalign treatment. To enjoy fruit and vegetable smoothies with Invisalign, remove your aligners first to prevent staining and damage. Rinse or brush afterward to clear away sugars and acids that could harm your teeth. Keeping smoothies low in added sugars also helps protect against cavities. 

Additional Tips  

• Cut Food into Smaller Pieces: Even though there are certain foods that may be relatively hard to chew, it is advised that you chop them into small pieces so that you do not force your teeth to bite hard and at the same time compromise on your aligners.  
• Avoid Dark Sauces and Spices: As for sauces, when selecting them for pasta or rice, it is better to choose the ones that do not leave a stain.  

Practice Good Oral Hygiene: It is recommended that you brush and floss your teeth after taking a meal to avoid any particles from being lodged between the teeth and the aligners. 

Drinking with Invisalign 

Taking care of your Invisalign aligners and achieving the best results also depends on what you take, especially when it comes to beverages. Some drinks can cause your aligner to become stained or damaged and lead to other oral health issues. Here are the guidelines for drinking with Invisalign: 

Beverages to Avoid  

• Coffee and Tea: Coffee and tea cause staining that can harm your aligners. If you must consume them, do it without your aligners and rinse your mouth before putting your aligners back in.  

• Soda and Sugary Drinks: When retained between the aligners these beverages can cause cavities. Sodas contain some level of acidity that contributes to the wearing away of the teeth’s outer layer, called the enamel. Therefore, avoid these drinks with your aligners, and if you consume without aligners, rinse your mouth with water.  
• Energy and Sports Drinks: Like soda, these beverages can lead to cavities and harm aligners and Braces. Reduce consumption and rinse the mouth afterward or brush the teeth.  

Safe Drinks  

• Water: The best drink to consume with aligners is water. It aids in keeping your mouth moist and may remove food debris from the mouth and teeth. Moreover, water will not discolor your aligners or teeth.  
• Sparkling Water: Choose still water without additives, especially without sweeteners and high acidity.  
• Herbal Tea: Plain herbal teas with no sugar are not a problem but make sure you use the tea to rinse your mouth.  

By following these guidelines, you can enjoy a variety of beverages while protecting your Invisalign aligners and maintaining your oral health. Remember, proper care and attention to what you drink will help ensure the success of your Invisalign treatment. 

Contact your Danville dentist, Dr. Hoss Abar, DDS, MSD, at Danville Orthodontics to learn more about Eating and Drinking with Invisalign.

Resource:

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*Neither this nor any other content in this media is meant to prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. We highly suggest that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition.