We all know there are food restrictions with braces. But what about Invisalign? Can you drink milkshakes with Invisalign? Can you eat popcorn? Can you drink coffee? At Smith Orthodontics, we have heard all of the questions about food, drinks, and Invisalign, and we have the answers!
Food Restrictions With Invisalign
With the list of food restrictions for braces, our Invisalign patients often want to know first thing whether those extend to Invisalign. Here’s the short answer: no. Invisalign clear aligners can be removed, which means you don’t have to worry about certain foods breaking wires or loosening brackets. However, hard foods can damage your clear aligners, which is why you need to remove them before you eat.
So the first tip is a simple one: remove your Invisalign before you eat. That way, you can eat whatever you want and not have to worry about damaging your Invisalign.
Drink Restrictions With Invisalign
What about drinks with Invisalign? That’s a bit trickier. You can drink some liquids with Invisalign, but you have to keep some things in mind. The liquids need to be clear. Colored liquids, such as fruit juices, coffee, tea, or water with colored flavor enhancers can discolor your Invisalign.
What about milkshakes? That’s a common question: Can I drink milkshakes with Invisalign? Yes, the suggestions above include milkshakes, because some milkshakes have dyes in them that can also discolor your Invisalign. That also applies to most sodas, unless they’re clear.
The second tip for your Invisalign: Take your Invisalign out if you are going to drink anything other than water or another clear beverage.
Snacks With Invisalign
We know you take out your Invisalign for meals, but what about snacks? As with meals, you’ll want to remove your Invisalign before eating snacks. However, you’ll want to limit your snacking between meals, and not just for health reasons.
You must wear your Invisalign at least 20-22 hours a day for them to be fully effective in treating your teeth. Too many snacks can mean too much time with the Invisalign out of your mouth. This can make your treatment less effective.
The best solution is to plan your snack time. If you need to have a snack, pick a certain time and keep it short. Limit it to one or two snacks a day, at the most. And be sure to rinse and replace your Invisalign as soon as you’re finished.
Carry a Storage Case to Keep Your Invisalign Safe
You’re encouraged to remove your Invisalign before eating, drinking, or snacking. One thing we strongly recommend is that you carry your Invisalign case with you at all times. That way, if you are out at a restaurant, in the school cafeteria, or visiting a friend’s home, you will be able to keep up with your Invisalign.
There has been more than one instance where a patient wraps their Invisalign in a napkin at a restaurant, then accidentally disposes of the aligner. Oops. Unfortunately, that “oops” can cost money to replace! It can also cost precious time in your treatment. That’s why we recommend having a storage case available. Usually, their bright color is hard to miss, so you won’t mistakenly toss it.
The storage case will also keep your Invisalign safe from potential damage when it is not in your mouth. If needed, get more than one storage case, so you have one at home and one on you at all times. Spare cases are readily available at major retailers and pharmacies.
Keep Your Invisalign Clean
Our final tip is one of the most important: Keep your Invisalign clean! This doesn’t mean just rinsing your Invisalign before you put them back into your mouth. It also means brushing your teeth thoroughly before replacing your Invisalign. After you eat or drink, food particles and bacteria are left on your teeth. Your Invisalign can trap these against your teeth, which can lead to tooth decay over time. Food and bacteria trapped on your teeth can also discolor your Invisalign. That’s why it’s so important to floss and brush your teeth before replacing your Invisalign.
Our final tip: Keep a travel toothbrush and some floss handy wherever you go, so you can floss and brush before you put your Invisalign back in your mouth.
Getting More Answers
These are some of the most common questions we get about treatment with Invisalign. That doesn’t mean we’ve answered your question, but we can! If you’re in the Wichita, KS, area, you can contact us about Invisalign treatment. You can schedule a consult with us, and we can walk you through what treatment with Invisalign could mean for you. We’re always happy to help!
