Invisalign offers a convenient alternative to braces, helping you get the smile you’ve always desired. It involves wearing aligner trays for 20-22 hours per day, removing them only for cleaning and eating purposes. For some, removing Invisalign aligners before eating can be an inconvenience, especially if you’re eating out. However, doing so is crucial to your treatment’s success.
In this article, we’ll explore why wearing Invisalign trays during meals is detrimental to your treatment progress, plus what you can do for a successful treatment journey.
Content Navigation
- Summary of the Article
- Should I Eat While Eating with My Aligners?
- Why Is It Important to Remove My Invisalign Aligners Before Eating?
- What Are the Limitations of Invisalign Treatment?
- How Can Eating with Invisalign Aligners Harm My Treatment Progress?
- How Can Eating with Invisalign Aligners Affect the Fit of the Aligners?
- What Are the Best Strategies for Remembering to Remove My Invisalign Aligners Before Eating?
- Do I Need to Remove My Invisalign When Drinking Water?
- What Are the Consequences of Not Removing Invisalign Aligners Before Eating?
- How Should I Clean My Aligners if I Accidentally Eat While Wearing Them?
- Final Thoughts
Summary of the Article
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that aims to straighten teeth. Patients should wear these aligners at least 22 hours daily to achieve desired results. You can only remove them when cleaning them, eating and drinking (unless plain cold and warm water), and brushing and flossing your teeth. Removing your aligners when eating is important because chewing tough and sticky foods can cause damage. Food debris can also get stuck between your aligners and teeth, causing dental issues and ill-fitting trays. As a result, your treatment progress may be delayed.
Additionally, you should avoid dark-coloured, sticky and sugary foods and drinks, as these can also cause damage and discolouration to your aligners and teeth. If you’re the type who always needs to remember to remove your aligners before eating, there are some simple strategies you can follow. One of the most helpful ways is to set the alarm on your phone or computer to remind yourself to take out your aligners before meals.
Should I Eat While Eating with My Aligners?
As orthodontic treatment aims to provide the patient with a healthy and beautiful smile, maintaining your aligners in good condition is key. One way of doing so is refraining from eating with aligners. Eating with aligners is never recommended, as it increases the risk of aligner damage such as warping, cracking and breaking, and other dental problems.
Why Is It Important to Remove My Invisalign Aligners Before Eating?
If you’re considering Invisalign to achieve straight teeth, you’re probably wondering what Invisalign can manage. The good news is that these invisible braces can address a wide range of dental problems. This includes the following:
- Gapped teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Open bites
- Crowded teeth
- Misaligned teeth
Overall, Invisalign has provided many individuals with an effective solution to their dental problems without compromising comfort or convenience.
What Are the Limitations of Invisalign Treatment?
Removing your aligners before eating is vital. Here’s why:
- It prevents damage to the aligners.
While Invisalign aligners are durable, they can’t withstand constant pressure from chewing, especially if you’re eating hard or crunchy food. Eating with aligners can cause them to break, meaning you need to have them replaced more often.
- It helps prevent dental issues.
Removing your aligners before you eat can help prevent food particles from getting stuck between the trays and your teeth, which could lead to decayed teeth, gum disease, bad breath, and other dental problems.
- It prevents staining.
Some foods, like berries, coffee and wine, can cause your aligners to stain, making your teeth look discoloured when wearing them.
Wearing your aligners while eating can delay your treatment progress, so always remove your aligners before eating.
How Can Eating with Invisalign Aligners Harm My Treatment Progress?
Eating with Invisalign aligners can significantly affect your treatment progress. As mentioned, hard foods can cause cracks in your aligners and lead to breakage. Aside from this, eating anything hot can also cause your aligner to warp. Wearing deformed aligners can cause unplanned movement of your teeth. This can derail your treatment as your teeth will not move toward their planned aligned positions. When this happens, your dentist may need to ask you to return to your previous aligner trays as they fabricate a new tray to replace the broken one.
However, if the unplanned movement is drastic, several sets of aligner trays may need to be fabricated to bring you back on track. Aside from costing you more, these changes will cause a delay in your treatment, which means you have to wait longer to achieve your desired results.
Similarly, food particles can get stuck between the trays and your teeth. This can cause cavities and other dental issues that must be addressed prior to continuing the treatment. In the case of gum disease, the treatment may have to be halted for a long time to restore the health of the gums.
How Can Eating with Invisalign Aligners Affect the Fit of the Aligners?
If you don’t remove your Invisalign trays when eating, food particles can become trapped between the trays and your teeth. The trays may become too tight, making it difficult to remove them and causing discomfort. This can also make the fit of the aligners less effective, delaying your treatment progress.
In addition, eating while wearing Invisalign trays can cause them to stretch or warp, resulting in an ill-fitting tray that has to be replaced.
What Are the Best Strategies for Remembering to Remove My Invisalign Aligners Before Eating?
If you are the type who tends to forget to take out your Invisalign aligners before eating, there are a few strategies you can use. Here are some of them:
- Schedule the same times for eating every meal.
As much as possible, try to stick to a routine to remind yourself to take out your aligners before each meal.
- Set reminders on your phone or computer.
Smartphones have features that notify you when you set a task. Set the alarm on your device that will remind you to take out your aligners before each meal. If you are always on your computer, you can use calendar applications to remind you of this important task.
- Put a note near where you usually eat.
Place a post-it or a note on the fridge, table, or anywhere else in sight that will help serve as a visual cue for you to remember to remove your aligners and keep them inside the case.
- Set an alarm with your watch.
Your watch can remind you to take out your aligners before each meal. It will be more helpful if it has features that allow you to set the alarm. This way, you’ll always have an audible or vibrational reminder.
- Have someone check up on you.
Let a family member or close friend know about your treatment progress and ask them to remind you to remove your aligners before meals.
Do I Need to Remove My Invisalign When Drinking Water?
Drinking water with your Invisalign aligners is generally safe, though consuming anything hot must be avoided. This is because hot beverages may warp your aligner, making them less effective at straightening your teeth. It is also important to make sure that there are no sugary or acidic ingredients in your drink before taking a sip while wearing them. With proper care and awareness, it’s possible to wear Invisalign while staying hydrated without any negative consequences on your treatment.
What Are the Consequences of Not Removing Invisalign Aligners Before Eating?
The most significant consequences of not removing your aligners when eating are delayed treatment progress, pain or discomfort, and additional cost. When your aligners are damaged or loose, they can cause pain or discomfort. Your dentist must order a new set to replace these, and it will add more time to your treatment and expenses.
How Should I Clean My Aligners if I Accidentally Eat While Wearing Them?
Sometimes you forget to take off your Invisalign aligners before eating. In these cases, it’s important to brush and floss your teeth as soon as possible to remove any food particles that might be stuck. You should also clean or soak your aligners so that bacteria and plaque don’t have a chance to build up.
Here are some cleaning solution options and methods you may use:
- Invisalign cleaning crystals
This Invisalign product comes with cleaning crystals and a tub to remove bacteria and plaque from the aligners.
To use, remove your aligners and rinse under tap water. Put them into the cleaning tub and fill the tub with enough lukewarm water to immerse your Invisalign trays fully. Add one packet of cleaning crystals and gently shake the tub for 20 seconds to dissolve and distribute the crystals. Leave it for 20-30 minutes. After which, gently shake it again for about 20 seconds, then rinse the aligners with lukewarm water before putting them back in your mouth.
- Invisalign aligner cleaning foam
This is another Invisalign product that doesn’t require soaking and rinsing. Just dispense 1-2 full pumps of foam inside each aligner. Spread evenly before wearing them again. Spit any excess foam. You can use this up to four times daily.
- Baking soda
If you don’t have any Invisalign cleaning products, you may use a baking soda paste. Mix one tbsp of baking soda and 1/2 cup of warm water. Apply the paste inside the aligners, and with a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush the trays gently. Rinse the aligners with lukewarm water before wearing them.
- White vinegar soaking solution
You can also use white vinegar as a cleaning solution for Invisalign trays. Mix one part of white vinegar and three parts of lukewarm water in a bowl to create a soaking solution. Place your aligners in the bowl until they are submerged completely, and leave them there for at least 15 minutes or more if preferred. Remove them from the liquid afterwards, rinse with tap water, and then brush them with a soft toothbrush before rinsing them again with running water.
- Hydrogen peroxide
Mix one part of hydrogen peroxide with two parts of water. Immerse your aligners in the solutions and leave for about 20 minutes. You may also brush them before rinsing them thoroughly with warm water.
- Clear liquid antibacterial soap
This is a good option for cleaning Invisalign trays if you don’t have any of the previously mentioned solutions. However, avoid soap with added colours, scents, or dyes that can discolour or leave residue on your aligners. Put a few drops of clear liquid soap into a bowl of lukewarm water and mix to create a solution. Submerge your aligners in the mixture for about 20 minutes, and brush them before rinsing them thoroughly with warm water.
Final Thoughts
Invisalign treatment is one of the most popular teeth straightening options because it is virtually invisible and removable. The duration of treatment may also be shorter, and the aligners are more comfortable to wear than traditional metal braces. However, as part of their maintenance, they must be removed before eating. Hard, sticky, and hot foods can damage your Invisalign trays. Food debris can also get stuck between them and your teeth, which can cause plaque build-up, tooth decay, and gum disease. If left unaddressed, it will delay your treatment.
If you are considering this orthodontic procedure, talk to one of the dentists at Comfort Care Dental. Schedule an initial appointment at your most convenient time, and we will provide you with a hassle-free consultation to help you decide if Invisalign is right for you.
Our dental clinic has a team of dentists with years of experience with Invisalign treatment. We also use modern dental technology to help us provide quality dental care services. When you come for a consultation, your dentist will check your oral health to determine if you are eligible for the treatment. If you are, they will discuss all the essential details about Invisalign. They will also tell you what you should and shouldn’t do while undergoing this treatment, including the preferred diet or healthier food options. If you can commit to these and decide to continue with the treatment, then we may start your Invisalign journey.