About 40% of American children and three out of five teenagers suffer from severe tooth displacement. While braces have been the long-time go-to straightening solution, modern options like Invisalign have become more popular. It is easy to see why with their wearing flexibility and low profile looks.
However, some challenges come with wearing these clear aligners. One of which is can you eat with Invisalign? Before you commit, you should know what you can and cannot consume while wearing your Invisalign.
Can You Eat With Invisalign?
Eating with Invisalign is a big no-no. Just do not do it. While your Invisalign clear aligners are built to be strong and durable, they are not designed to withstand the pressure your jaws exert when chewing.
What Can You Eat With Invisalign?
There is no “safe” food that you can eat while wearing Invisalign. Because food requires you to chew, and chewing is what can damage the aligner, it is best not to eat anything while wearing it. Additionally, you don’t want food getting trapped under the aligner, which would cause tooth decay.
Always take your Invisalign retainers out to have a meal or snack. However, remember that your aligners need to be worn a certain amount of time each day to be effective. So track when you plan to eat and how long it took you to eat.
You can add this time to your wearing schedule so that your eating does not inadvertently reduce your wearing time by hours. This will prolong your results and reduce the aligner’s effectiveness.
Drinking While Wearing Invisalign Aligners
Food with Invisalign is one thing, but what about drinks? One of the most common Invisalign tips is to only drink water while wearing your aligner. Colored drinks will discolor the clear aligner, which will make your teeth look discolored and more obvious that you are wearing Invisalign.
Avoid coffee, tea, and red wine. These are all notorious for staining. Even sports drinks could stain your aligner, making water the only safe beverage.
No Gum
Never chew gum while wearing your aligner. Sure, it seems possible because they fit snugly and feel smooth. However, the gum will stick to your aligner and cause a lot of damage.
The aligners are not designed to rub against your teeth or each other, which will happen when you chew gum. Over time, this friction will create abrasion damage to both your aligners and your teeth.
The Benefit of the No Eating Rule
Removing and reinserting your aligner may seem daunting whenever you want to eat a meal or have a snack. However, for many wearers, there is a hidden benefit. This extra step makes wearers more aware of what and when they eat, resulting in the loss of a few pounds.
Start Your Journey to Straighter Teeth
So, can you eat with Invisalign? The short answer is no, just do not do it. Do not get tempted by just one bite or just one sip.
Staying strong, always remove your aligners, brush your teeth, and put them back in. With consistent vigilance, you will have beautiful straight teeth.
