Across the United States, about 90% of people have issues with misaligned or maloccluded teeth. Orthodontic disorders are increasingly common and luckily so are the treatment options. While traditional metal braces used to be the only option to straighten teeth, Invisalign aligners are becoming more and more popular.
However, many people don’t realize that there are some rules to follow when using this type of orthodontic care. For example, you need to be careful with what you eat when you have Invisalign.
Do you want to learn more about the types of foods you need to avoid when you have Invisalign? Keep reading this dental care guide to learn more about the different types of food you can eat with your aligners!
Why You Need to Be Cautious
When you have Invisalign, you need to be cautious about what you eat. Otherwise, you may end up damaging your aligners.
Not only do you need to be careful about what you eat when you have Invisalign, but you also need to remove your clear aligners before you eat or drink. This is because the plastic that the aligners are made from is not meant to withstand the kind of pressure that your teeth can put on them when you chew.
Plus, many foods and drinks can stain your clear aligners. This will make them much more noticeable when you wear them, which defeats the purpose of having clear trays!
Being careful about what you eat and remembering to remove your Invisalign aligners will improve your orthodontic treatment.
Foods to Eat
There are many foods that you can eat when you are getting Invisalign treatment from a local orthodontist.
Soft foods are one of the best things you can eat during treatment. This is because they are easier to chew and are less likely to get stuck in your teeth. If you are unable to brush your teeth after a meal, eating something soft, like pasta, will prevent unnecessary bacteria growth between your teeth and aligners.
You can eat essentially anything that you want when you have Invisalign, as long as you take the proper precautions! Simply removing your trays will prevent damage from staining foods or the force of your teeth.
When you are looking for the best drinks to have when you are getting Invisalign, the best thing you can drink is water! The water will dislodge food particles in your teeth and can help you remove built-up bacteria and sugar that would otherwise be trapped beneath your Invisalign trays.
Drinking water can help you avoid unnecessary tooth decay during your treatment.
You can also drink milk, as this builds bone mass and can help you rebuild imperfections in your teeth. However, milk contains sugar, so you should never drink it while wearing your aligners. Instead, remove your aligners and thoroughly rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after drinking milk or any other drinks.
Foods to Avoid
Because Invisalign aligners are removable, there are not many things that are completely off-limits. As long as you remove your aligners, keep them clean, and rinse your mouth after eating, you can eat most foods.
Still, there are some foods that you may want to avoid if you are worried about impacting your treatment. First, you should avoid eating ice or ice cream. This is because these cold foods can cause damage to your teeth from grinding and cold shock.
Some cold foods can even crack your teeth, which can interfere with your treatment.
You should also avoid eating foods that are highly acidic or high in sugar. This is because they can seep under your aligners and cause tooth decay.
Lastly, you should avoid all sticky foods and candies. These include caramels, starbursts, and more. Not only can these damage your aligners if you fail to remove them, but they can also get stuck in your teeth and promote bacteria growth when you replace your aligners.
Other Things to Avoid
There are things other than food that you should always avoid when you are getting Invisalign treatment. One of the things that you must be careful with is the drinks that you have when you have clear aligners.
As was mentioned before, many drinks can discolor or stain your aligners. This includes coffee, sodas, alcoholic beverages, and more. Make sure you limit your consumption of these drinks when you have Invisalign!
You should also remove your aligners when you drink anything other than water.
Not only should you avoid these types of drinks, but you should not smoke when you use Invisalign. The nicotine and tar found in cigarettes can stain your teeth, which can then stain your aligners. You should follow these same guidelines with other types of tobacco, vaping, and more.
Finally, you must avoid chewing gum when you are wearing Invisalign aligners. Gum can stick to your aligners and can also foster bacteria growth. This can lead to stained trays, so you should always remove your aligners before chewing gum.
Learn More About Caring for Invisalign Aligners Today
When you are using Invisalign aligners to straighten your teeth, you have more freedom with the foods that you can eat. Still, you need to be careful that you don’t eat or drink anything that can damage your clear aligners. Following each of these tips can help you keep your aligners clear throughout your treatment.
If you need help finding a Louisville orthodontist, White, Greer, & Maggard Orthodontics can help! We provide quality orthodontic and dental services and can help you achieve your dream smile.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!