How Invisalign Can Help With Eating and Drinking Options

One question you may have is what you can eat and drink while using Invisalign®. Most people know that patients who get braces cannot eat and drink certain foods. People wonder if it is the same for Invisalign. One big potential detractor for many who want to straighten their teeth is feeling like they cannot enjoy the same foods. What you can eat and drink while using Invisalign as a treatment may surprise you.

The restrictions that come with braces

Steer clear of sticky foods with braces. Patients who get braces cannot remove them themselves. Dentists cement the brackets to the teeth and connect them with wires and springs. Certain hard and sticky foods can damage the braces. This can lead to potentially expensive and painful repairs.

Definitely avoid trapped food with braces. Foods that are difficult to clean out from braces can also cause trouble. Braces are good at trapping food particles around teeth. If wearers do not carefully clean around all the brackets and wires, tooth decay and cavities can develop. In some cases, braces can lead to gum disease.

The Invisalign difference

Invisalign trays are removable. Wearers can remove their Invisalign aligners. In fact, people can damage the trays trying to eat while wearing them. The good news is that patients can safely eat all foods after removing the aligners. A removal tool is a handy way to take the Invisalign trays out when it is time to eat. After the meal or snack is over, the aligners go back into place easily and comfortably.

Clear and discreet, Invisalign aligners are plastic and show the teeth underneath. With care, patients do not have to worry about discoloration of the plastic or teeth. Many wearers see an improvement in the enamel shade. People may not have to remove Invisalign at all while drinking water, making them even more discreet to wear.

When food and Invisalign do not mix

Remove Invisalign trays before eating. It is important that people who want to enjoy eating any food remove the aligners first. Chewing and grinding can damage the trays and delay the outcome. Drinking certain liquids while wearing Invisalign can also damage the trays by staining them. The aligners will still work, but the color may be less than desirable.

Hygiene matters. Invisalign trays work better with a good oral hygiene routine, just like braces. The routine will be slightly different. People should take care to brush and floss after eating and before replacing the aligners. Trapped foods can cause tooth decay and gum disease and delay the alignment process.