Invisalign and Food: A Complete Guide to Eating & Drinking

A significant benefit of undergoing Invisalign treatment is the freedom it offers in your daily life, especially when it comes to meals. Unlike with fixed braces, there is no long list of prohibited foods. However, this lifestyle advantage is balanced by a few critical rules that must be followed to ensure your treatment is a success.

The Golden Rule: Always Take Your Aligners Out to Eat

This rule is straightforward and absolute: you should never, under any circumstances, eat with your aligners in your mouth. The aligners are not engineered to endure the forces of chewing. Attempting to eat with them in could:

• Damage or break the aligners: Chewing can easily crack, fracture, or deform the thermoplastic material.
• Permanently stain them: Colorful foods and spices can tint your aligners, robbing them of their discreet, clear appearance.
• Increase your risk of cavities: Food debris can become trapped between your teeth and the aligner, fostering an ideal acidic environment for cavity-causing bacteria.

The Great News: Enjoy Total Food Freedom

The moment your aligners are safely in their case, you have the green light to eat anything you like! This is one of the most significant advantages over traditional braces. You can confidently bite into a crunchy apple, enjoy chewy caramel, or snack on nuts without the fear of damaging an appliance.

It's still wise to be a little cautious with extremely hard foods if you have attachments on your teeth, though they are designed to be quite robust.

A Guide to Drinks: What's Safe and What's Not

When it comes to beverages, the rules are slightly more nuanced.

What You Can Drink with Your Aligners In

The only beverage that is completely safe to consume with your aligners in is plain, cool or room-temperature water.

What You Must Drink with Your Aligners Out

For every other type of drink, you must remove your aligners:

• Hot Beverages (Coffee, Tea): The high temperature can warp and distort the plastic of your custom-fit aligners.
• Sugary Beverages (Sodas, Juices, Sports Drinks): Sugar can seep underneath the aligners and sit against your enamel for hours, dramatically increasing your risk for cavities.
• Colored Beverages (Red Wine, Coffee, Certain Teas): These drinks contain pigments that can quickly and permanently stain your aligners yellow or brown.

Your Essential Post-Meal Hygiene Protocol

To maintain your 22-hour daily wear schedule and keep your mouth healthy, adopting an efficient post-meal routine is essential:

1. Remove the aligners and place them in their protective case.
2. Enjoy your meal or beverage.
3. Thoroughly brush and floss your teeth. This step is mandatory to prevent trapping plaque and food under your aligners.
4. Clean your aligners as well, either by brushing them gently or rinsing them well with cool water.
5. Re-insert your clean aligners onto your freshly cleaned teeth.

Practical Concerns: Smoking and Chewing Gum

Can I Smoke with Invisalign Aligners?

It is strongly advised not to smoke with your aligners in place. The tar and nicotine from cigarettes will rapidly discolor them with a yellow or brownish tint, completely negating their aesthetic advantage.

Can I Chew Gum with Invisalign?

No. Chewing gum will adhere immediately to your aligners, creating a sticky mess that would be nearly impossible to remove completely.

Conclusion: Freedom is Paired with Discipline

Eating with Invisalign provides a level of freedom unheard of with traditional braces, but that freedom is contingent upon a strict commitment to hygiene. By consistently following these simple rules, you can enjoy all the benefits of your treatment without jeopardizing your oral health or the effectiveness of your path to a new smile.