Are you wondering what foods to eat with Invisalign during your treatment process?
One of the great benefits of Invisalign is that it’s removable. The ability to take your Invisalign trays out is a major convenience over traditional braces and means there are fewer eating restrictions. But just because you can take your trays out doesn’t mean that all food and drink are on the table.
When eating with Invisalign, following some best practices ensures your trays and teeth remain strong and healthy throughout your treatment.
In this article, we’re sharing some Invisalign tips for eating and drinking. We’ll also be answering some of the top questions, like:
- What foods can I eat with Invisalign?
- Can you eat with Invisalign trays in?
- Can you eat soft foods with Invisalign?
Join us as we explore the dos and don’ts of eating (and drinking!) with Invisalign.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign is an alignment method similar to traditional braces. However, it doesn’t use wire and metal brackets attached to your teeth.
Instead, Invisalign uses plastic mouthpieces (called aligners or trays) that you place over your teeth. Every few weeks, you’ll visit your orthodontist to receive a new set of trays. These aligners will slowly close gaps and straighten your teeth. But you’ll need to wear your trays for 20-22 hours each day and follow any other orthodontic recommendations for a successful treatment.
Following your treatment, you’ll receive retainers that you should wear to ensure your teeth stay in place and don’t revert to their original position.
The Advantages of Invisalign
Over the past few years, Invisalign has grown in popularity, especially among the adult crowd. Its popularity comes from its many perks and advantages over traditional braces.
The three biggest perks of Invisalign are that it’s:
- Clear (invisible)
- Less invasive
- Removable
But in particular, people love that Invisalign is removable.
Removability
Metal braces are cemented to your teeth until you finish your treatment, and there are many foods and drinks that you can’t consume. Additionally, brushing and oral hygiene are more complicated with traditional braces.
With Invisalign, you can take your trays out when eating, drinking, or brushing. This means there are fewer restrictions on Invisalign food and drink consumption. It also means that you can forget to put your trays back in.
Not following specific guidelines when eating with Invisalign can damage your trays, slow down your treatment, or negatively affect your oral health. It’s essential to ask your orthodontist what and how to eat with Invisalign for the best results.
To help you get an initial idea of some of the foods to eat with Invisalign and other best practices, we’re going to answer some of the most common questions.
The Top 3 Questions About Eating with Invisalign
Invisalign is a powerful straightening tool that can help you get the smile you’ve always wanted. And even though you can remove your trays to eat, drink, and brush, there are some things you should know.
Here are the top three questions most people have about Invisalign and eating.
Note: When we talk about eating with Invisalign, we’re also talking about drinking.
Can You Eat with Invisalign Trays In?
The most important thing to know and remember about Invisalign is that you should always remove your trays before eating. The same is true of drinking any liquid other than water.
Eating with Invisalign
Eating with your Invisalign tray in your mouth can damage your trays. A damaged tray might not fit your teeth properly, and you’ll need to get a new tray made. Getting a new tray outside of regularly scheduled orthodontist appointments will cost more money.
Drinking with Invisalign
Drinking liquid other than water won’t damage your tray, but it can:
- Stain your tray
- Stain your teeth
- Increase your risk of tooth decay
A stained Invisalign will make it more noticeable, and any sugars left in the tray can get stuck to your teeth.
Before replacing your tray after eating or drinking, it’s a best practice to brush your teeth (or at least rinse your mouth with water) if possible.
Can You Eat Soft Foods with Invisalign?
Many people with Invisalign wonder if they can leave their trays in when they eat soft foods. Soft foods themselves may not damage your tray, but the force of biting and chewing can. It’s still best to take your aligners out when eating soft foods.
Any time you eat food (hard or soft) or drink something other than water, you’ll want to take out your tray. Consistently removing your tray before eating ensures the highest quality and effectiveness of your Invisalign treatment. It also helps protect your overall oral health.
That said, eating soft foods without your trays in your mouth is an excellent choice during your Invisalign treatment. Soft foods are less likely to get stuck in your teeth and are easier to remove from your teeth. They’re a good option for lunch or other times when you’re unable to brush your teeth.
What Foods Can I Eat with Invisalign?
If you’re in the habit of taking your trays out before eating, there aren’t any off-limits foods.
As we briefly mentioned earlier, it can be best to eat softer food at times when you can’t easily brush your teeth. And it’s always a good idea to avoid excessive amounts of sugary foods or drinks whether you’re actively using Invisalign or not.
However, one of the most significant benefits of Invisalign is the ability to eat all the foods you enjoy during your Invisalign process.
Expert Orthodontic Advice on “Can I Eat With Invisalign?”
Invisalign is a great alignment tool, especially for teens or older adults looking for a straighter smile. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign is removable when eating or brushing your teeth. People particularly enjoy the ability to eat and drink whatever they want during their Invisalign treatment.
Even though there aren’t any serious food restrictions when eating with Invisalign, there are some best practices to follow. For example:
- You should always remove your Invisalign tray before eating food or drinking anything other than water.
- Soft foods are some of the best foods to eat with Invisalign (after you take out your tray, of course), especially when you can’t immediately brush your teeth.
- After eating, you should brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with water before replacing your trays.
Otherwise, you can enjoy your everyday foods and eating routine during an Invisalign treatment. And if you still have Invisalign food and drink questions, you can talk to a professional orthodontist.
At Bates Orthodontics, we’re Invisalign experts in Richmond, VA and surrounding areas. Our in-house orthodontist is a Platinum Plus Invisalign provider, having successfully treated hundreds of patients. This distinction recognizes Dr. Bates’ achievement and his level of expertise. Whether you’re looking to start an Invisalign treatment or simply need some general, orthodontic advice, we’re ready to help.
Book your appointment online or give us a call at 804-943-9292 to schedule your free consultation.
