What Foods Must I Avoid with Invisalign?®

Wish your smile was straighter and more even and presented a polished look of perfection? Have you looked into braces but can’t stand the idea of metal in your mouth? Invisalign® can give you the smile you deserve in less time than traditional braces. No wires, no hassle — just easy to insert and remove aligners that don’t interfere with your day to day life.

Dr. Padmaja Yalamanchili of Fairfax Family Dentist in Virginia has helped many patients achieve the smile of their dreams with Invisalign tooth aligners. However, like most oral appliances, they require unique care, and there are some foods you should avoid while wearing them. 

Foods to avoid when using tooth aligners

After being outfitted with Invisalign aligners, the first thing most people ask is what they can and cannot eat. Conventional braces limit your diet by requiring you to avoid chewy, crunchy, and sugary foods. The great thing about aligners is that they’re removable, so you can eat whatever you want once you’ve taken them off. 

However, there are some foods you should avoid eating while wearing Invisalign:

Coffee, tea, and wine

You can drink while wearing Invisalign, but you should limit your coffee and tea intake. These drinks contain substances that stain the teeth, and your aligners can become stained too. This will make your invisible aligners become cloudy and discolored, which will affect the look of your teeth. 

Wine is even worse. If you plan on partaking in a few glasses, slip your aligners out beforehand, and rinse your mouth well with water before putting them back in. As for your morning coffee, you might be better off drinking it and brushing your teeth before you put your aligners back in. 

Gum and candy

Hard candy coats your teeth in sugar, and soft candies are often sticky or require a lot of chewing. Gum isn’t any better; the constant chewing can damage your aligners. While you can just take them out to enjoy a piece of gum, remember that you’re supposed to keep your Invisalign trays in for at least 20 hours per day! 

Ice

This is another seemingly harmless snack with serious consequences. Chewing ice is bad for your natural teeth, but exceedingly bad for your aligners. The force required to crunch the ice puts a lot of stress on your aligners and can easily damage them. It’s best to just avoid munching on the leftover ice in your cup. 

Why you should remove your aligners while eating

As mentioned above, Invisalign trays are completely removable, so there’s nothing stopping you from taking them out before meals and snacks. It’s important to preserve the shape and integrity of your aligners so they can properly reshape your teeth. While chewing with them on seems harmless once in a while, you’re actually better off playing it safe. 

Have you just started using Invisalign? Are you interested in getting aligners? Learn more by talking to Dr. Yalamanchili. To get in touch, call 703-213-5313, or visit the contact page for more information.