What can you not eat with invisalign attachments

Wait a second. Wasn’t I promised that I could eat anything I want if I chose Invisalign!? Yes, you were. With braces, you have to stay away from any foods that are sticky, crunchy, or chewy – with Invisalign, that is all fair game. And really all foods can be had without much worry. At Dunegan&Cole we actually recommend that you keep your aligners in while you eat your meals – if this sounds weird, check out this blog post to understand why.

Table of Contents Show

How does Invisalign work?
What foods should I avoid during Invisalign treatment?
Oral hygiene tips for Invisalign
Schedule a consultation to learn about Invisalign today
Can you eat steak with Invisalign attachments?
When can I eat after getting Invisalign attachments?
What foods stain Invisalign attachments?
What foods are off limits with Invisalign?

That being said, there are a few items that you may want to avoid in order to keep your Invisalign crystal clear. Your daily diet can not only stain teeth but also the aligners and attachments. So what food and drink items top this list? Keep scrolling.

Coffee. Not only can it stain, but it’s very acidic. You definitely want to remove your aligners when drinking this sweet, sweet nectar because not only will it discolor your Invisalign aligners, any acidic liquid that gets trapped under the aligner and on your teeth can weaken the enamel over time. Be like me and remove our aligners and even consider sipping your cup of joe through a straw.

Soft drinks. Pop, soda, Coke – whatever you call it, we recommend staying clear. This is one of the worst things to have with your aligners in and drastically increases your chances of developing cavities on all of your teeth. If you must indulge, we recommend taking your aligners out and brushing well OR at least swishing with some water before placing your aligners back in

Red wine. Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Riesling – you are golden. For our reds, you will want to remove your aligners for the same reasons as coffee above.

Turmeric. This middle eastern spice is typically found in hot beverages and delicious dishes. In my opinion, this spice is totally trending now, too. Because of the orange-like tint to this spice, not only should you remove your aligners while eating this, but this is one where you should try and rinse with some water before reinserting them.

Saffron. This is another delicious spice that tastes great with risotto, but is not worth the yellowing it can cause on your pearly whites. Treat this like turmeric: remove your aligners while consuming and rinse with water (or even better – brush your teeth) before reinserting.

Ginger. One last spice that is great for weight loss, but bad for staining. Treat this like turmeric too.

When it comes to your smile, most people want theirs straight. Many of our patients in Merrimack, NH have had crooked, crowded, or overlapping teeth straightened successfully with Invisalign® treatment. At Something To Smile About, Dr. Kevin Boulard uses clear teeth aligners to slowly and continuously help his patients realign their teeth. This is a great orthodontic treatment for anyone who doesn’t want to go through a long and uncomfortable process of straightening their teeth with traditional metal braces. To ensure that your teeth look and feel their best, we will teach you oral hygiene tips on how to keep your Invisalign trays clean. We will also discuss diet recommendations of what to eat and what not to eat with Invisalign attachments.

How does Invisalign work?

At Something To Smile About, Dr. Boulard uses Invisalign to fix his patients’ concerns with their smile. He will map out a custom treatment plan for each of his patients in the Merrimack, NH area. He uses digital impressions of the upper and lower arches to send to the lab to make your clear teeth aligners. When your aligners are ready, you will re-visit our office and learn how to use and care for them properly. Follow-up visits to our office will allow us to track your progress. The length of time that you will need to use Invisalign trays will depend on your existing teeth positioning. On average, our patients have Invisalign treatment for about a year.

What foods should I avoid during Invisalign treatment?

One of the benefits of having Invisalign is being able to eat a more varied diet. Unlike traditional metal braces that restrict many more foods, Invisalign gives patients the opportunity to eat more of the things they enjoy.

Some foods that should be avoided during Invisalign treatment include:

Hard food or candy: Raw vegetables, hard candy, or hard fruit such as ripe apples should be cut into smaller pieces so they do not damage your aligners.

Sticky food or candy: Do not chew gum with Invisalign. Jelly beans, caramel, or other sticky foods can also pull at the aligners, causing them to break.

Acidic beverages: Tea, wine, or coffee can stain the aligners. These drinks can leave a tint to your aligners, which may make your teeth look discolored. Also, the high temperatures can change the shape of your aligners, which can lead to the need for longer orthodontic treatment time. Dr. Boulard suggests limiting soda consumption too, as it is very acidic and can break down tooth enamel.

Oral hygiene tips for Invisalign

It’s important that you clean your Invisalign trays every time that you brush your teeth. Soak your trays with cleaning crystals with warm water for at least 20 minutes. Brush them gently to remove any stains. Make sure that your aligners are completely dry before you put them back on your teeth. Toothpaste isn’t recommended for cleaning, as it can be abrasive and can scratch your aligners. Also, never use mouthwash when undergoing Invisalign treatment since it contains harsh ingredients that can damage your trays. Knowing how to clean your Invisalign trays helps make sure that they don’t get stained or dirty.

Schedule a consultation to learn about Invisalign today

If your smile is making you feel self-conscious, Invisalign can help. At Something To Smile About, Dr. Kevin Boulard helps patients straighten their crooked, misshapen, gapped, or overlapping teeth in Merrimack, NH. To learn if you’re a candidate for Invisalign, call our dental team today to schedule a consultation.

Can you eat steak with Invisalign attachments?

Because the clear aligners are easily removed, your diet is not restricted. You can eat the popcorn and pizza and apples and steak without worrying about doing damage to the wires and brackets of traditional metal braces.

When can I eat after getting Invisalign attachments?

The answer is, there are no Invisalign food restrictions. You can continue to eat whatever you'd like as long as you take your aligners out first. Remove your Invisalign aligners before eating or drinking anything aside from cold or room temperature, plain water.

What foods stain Invisalign attachments?

Staining is more common — the attachments can stain if you drink a lot of dark liquids like coffee, tea, or red wine. Luckily, Invisalign attachments respond well to whitening, so you can bleach them throughout your treatment, just like your teeth.

What foods are off limits with Invisalign?

Sticky foods, like jelly beans, caramel, Starbursts, etc. can pull and tug at the aligners, possibly breaking or damaging them. Avoiding Specific Drinks: Drinks like coffee, tea, and wine can easily stain your Invisalign aligners.