‘Invisalign Diet’ – Fact or Fiction?
The ‘Invisalign diet’ is pure fiction. One of the many amazing things about Invisalign aligners is that you don’t have to drastically change your diet to use them. As long as you take your aligners out to eat and drink anything other than water, and brush your teeth after every meal, you can practically eat what you like (with a few exceptions!), Here are the Invisalign food restrictions you need to know about.
The so-called Invisalign diet is a happy byproduct of wearing Invisalign aligners. Because aligners need to be worn for 22 hours a day, meal times require careful planning to minimise the amount of time your aligners are out of your mouth. The added hygiene regime also makes snacking far less appealing given how much effort it takes.
These small changes to your dietary habits can often lead to a certain amount of weight loss for some patients. You can also help the alignment process, and your waistline, further still by eating plenty of calcium-rich dairy foods and lots of high-fibre fruits and vegetables, as well as washing those down with fluoride-infused tap water. Read on to find out about the Invisalign food restrictions you need to know.
What Foods Should You Avoid With Invisalign?
Invisalign encourages the subtle alignment of your teeth, which inevitably involves your teeth shifting slowly over time. This can cause some added sensitivity, which is why it’s advisable to avoid extremely hot, cold, sticky and crunchy foods during the course of your treatment. Chewing gum is also best avoided.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is key, whatever you eat and drink. Brushing after every meal, and rinsing your Invisalign aligners every time you remove them (as well as cleaning them properly twice daily), is the best way to avoid food particles getting stuck in your aligners for hours and giving rise to cavity-forming harmful bacteria.
Top 5 Invisalign Eating Tips
Although you can eat and drink practically whatever you like with the Invisalign aligners, there are some exceptions to the rule. To get the most out of your Invisalign aligners, it’s definitely worth curbing a few common dietary habits and just being altogether more mindful about what you put into your mouth.
The following five Invisalign food restrictions will help keep your smile on the straight and narrow:
1. Don’t eat with Invisalign in
If you were wondering whether you can eat with Invisalign the short answer is: no. You risk cracking, staining or damaging your aligners. All of which defeats the purpose and endanger the alignment process.
2. Reduce snacking
Whenever you snack, your mouth becomes acidic. The more you snack, the longer those acids linger. This can eventually lead to tooth decay and gum disease. So try to reduce your snacking and always brush afterwards.
3. Minimise coffee consumption
Drinking several cups a day can quickly discolour your aligners, which ultimately defeats the object. Drinking hot drinks with your aligners can also warp the plastic, making them much less effective at aligning your teeth. If you find it hard to refrain from drinking hot drinks, then patients can use reusable metal straws for drinking warm/hot drinks with their aligners in.
4. Ditch the chewing gum
Can you chew gum with Invisalign? Not with them on. Chewing gum will stick to them, and the chewing motion can cause damage. Any remaining gum on your teeth can also impede the alignment process and lead to cavities.
5. Avoid tough/sticky food
Sticky sweets like toffee can expose your teeth to prolonged bouts of acid. While hard foods, like boiled sweets or crusty bread, can chip or crack your teeth, which could complicate your Invisalign procedure.
Can You Drink Alcohol With Invisalign?
The occasional alcoholic beverage, enjoyed with your aligners out (of course!), is perfectly fine. However, drinking alcohol regularly – particularly acidic and sugary drinks, like wines and cocktails – can weaken the tooth enamel. This can ultimately make you more prone to cavities and staining. Neither of which is appealing.
When it comes to drinking with Invisalign, try to rinse out your mouth after every drink to stop sugars and acids from getting trapped in your aligners. Consider drinking lots of water too. Not only will this help you to bounce back stronger the next day, but it will also stimulate saliva, which neutralises plaque acids. Win-win!
Invisalign Dentist
Invisalign offers so much more freedom than traditional braces. Not only are Invisalign aligners discreet, with their barely noticeable design, but they’re also incredibly comfortable and easy to remove whenever you need them. This last benefit makes them ideal for eating and drinking most of your everyday favourites.
But, as we’ve seen, with great power comes great responsibility. If you really want to make the most of your Invisalign procedure, you really do need to follow these simple but effective Invisalign eating tips. With just a few simple tweaks to your lifestyle, you can achieve that perfect smile you’ve always dreamed of! Thank you for reading about the 5 Invisalign food restrictions you need to know.
If you would like more information about Invisalign aligners, or would like to book an appointment, please contact us on 0151 236 6578.