What can you drink with Invisalign?

What can you drink with Invisalign?

1st December 2021

1.6 million cases. That’s how many Invisalign clear aligners Align Technology sold worldwide in 2020. And it’s not surprising why. Invisalign aligners are removable, comfortable, easy to clean, and the best part – discreet. If you’re thinking of going down the Invisalign route, or you have recently fitted Invisalign trays onto your teeth, you probably have a lot of questions like

• Can I drink anything other than water with Invisalign?
• Can I drink alcohol with Invisalign?
• Can I drink hot water and iced coffee with Invisalign?
• Can I drink milk and milkshakes with Invisalign?

3 factors that can damage your Invisalign trays

1. Extreme temperatures
Invisalign is made out of a medical-grade plastic that becomes soft when heated and hard when cooled. This means extremely hot and icy cold drinks can cause the plastic to warp. And if your aligners don’t fit your teeth properly, they won’t be able to exert the necessary force on your teeth to get them into the desired position. Wearing a warped aligner would also make the next set of trays not work effectively, and this could slow down your treatment.

2. Sugar and Acid
Your mouth is loaded with bacteria, both good and bad, when you eat or drink something sugary, the bad bacteria feed on the sugar and form acids that can:

Erode your tooth enamel
Cause demineralization – meaning they can siphon off all the minerals from your teeth, leading to weak teeth and eventually cavities
Saliva usually prevents demineralization by naturally adding calcium and phosphate to your teeth and by delivering the fluoride in your toothpaste to your tooth’s surface. But Invisalign acts as a barrier between your teeth and the saliva and traps all that sugar and acid, making it a major breeding space for bacteria. Now if that isn’t reason enough to remove your aligners before you drink that soda, we don’t know what is.

3. Stains
Most people choose Invisalign because they’re practically invisible. So drinking a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or a cup of Espresso with your trays in, defeats the whole purpose of wearing them. Now, let’s look at what you can drink with Invisalign…

Can I drink anything other than water with Invisalign?

You can eat or drink anything you like, as long as you REMOVE YOUR INVISALIGN before you do so.

Can I drink alcohol like beer or wine with Invisalign?

No. Please remove your Invisalign before you indulge in any kind of alcohol. But if you really need a boys’ (or gals’) night out and you can’t take your Invisalign out, then remember to

• Ditch the sugary stuff like beer, red wine, or cocktails
• Stick to clear drinks like gin or vodka
• Swish some water around in your mouth after every few sips of alcohol

Can I drink hot tea and iced coffee with Invisalign?

No. Stay away from hot coffee or tea and iced coffee as they can disfigure your aligners and set you back on your treatment. But if you don’t get a chance to remove your aligners, then we recommend

• Cooling your coffee or tea down to room temperature before drinking it
• Swishing some water around in your mouth after your cuppa

Tips for coffee lovers

• Enjoy your cuppa along with your breakfast to avoid brushing twice.
• Go for black coffee. No sugar and cream equal low risk of cavities.

Can I drink lemon water with Invisalign?

No. Citrus fruits like lemons, grapes, oranges, etc. contain citric acid that can erode your tooth enamel. So unless you want all that corrosive acid trapped on your gnashers, you’d do well to remove your aligners before that glass of lemonade.

Can I drink milk and milkshakes with Invisalign?

Sure, milk is white and won’t stain your Invisalign. But milk contains a natural sugar called lactose. While lactose may not ruin your teeth as terribly as other sugars, it can still harm your teeth to some extent. Drink a milkshake with your Invisalign on, and you can be sure those bacteria will wreak havoc on your pearly whites.

Can I drink using a straw while wearing Invisalign?

Yes. Drinking with straw means less liquid contact with your teeth and aligners and maybe less staining. But if you’re bingeing on sugary drinks with your Invisalign, a straw isn’t going to help you much.

The bottom line: A straw could lower the ill effects of sugar and stains but not completely prevent them.

5 tips to follow during your Invisalign treatment

1. Finish your drinks in one sitting. The more time you spend nursing your beer, the less time you spend wearing your aligners. (You need to wear them for 22 hours, remember?)
2. Try to have your drinks during your meal times, so that it doesn’t eat into your aligner wearing time.
3. Drink plenty of water. More water = More saliva = No teeth demineralization.
4. After your drinks, remove your trays and rinse your mouth well (preferably with a mouthwash), before you wear them again.
5. Brush your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste when you wake up, after meals and drinks, and before you sleep. Floss twice a day.

How to care for your Invisalign trays?

At Natural Smiles, we recommend the following:

1. Use Invisalign Cleaning System Crystals to clean your aligners

1. Rinse your Invisalign attachments with warm water
2. Dissolve a packet of the cleaning crystals in a glass of warm water
3. Soak your trays in this for 15-30 minutes
4. Wash your trays again in warm water before you wear them

2. Use a retainer-cleaning product
Products like Retainer Brite or WhiteFoam can clear up all that cloudy white residue on your Invisalign trays.

3. Rinse your aligners frequently
Clean your aligners with warm running water every time you remove them.

4. Don’t ever
Clean your trays using denture cleansers, rough brushes, or toothpaste.
Soak your aligners in alcohol-based mouthwash.
Final words
We hope you now have the answers to all your questions including

• Can I drink alcohol with Invisalign?
• Can I drink hot tea and iced coffee with Invisalign?
• Can I drink lemon water with Invisalign?
• Can I drink using a straw while wearing Invisalign?

At Natural Smiles, we offer Invisalign treatments at both our Leicester and Corby clinics. Visit us or book a free consultation today.