Foods To Avoid With Invisalign
Foods To Avoid With Invisalign
Thanks to modern dentistry, many options are available for fixing tooth misalignment - not just traditional metal braces. One of the most popular orthodontic treatment options available these days is the Invisalign aligners, owing to their inconspicuousness, comfort, and convenience. If you are considering Invisalign aligners to get your teeth straightened, you might wonder if there are any dietary restrictions or foods you should avoid while wearing them. If yes, you have come to the right place. In this article, Dr. Williams at Perfect Smiles Dentistry explains which foods to avoid with Invisalign clear aligners. But before that, we must understand the Invisalign orthodontic system and how it works.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic system based on the use of removable aligners to straighten crooked and misaligned teeth. Unlike traditional fixed braces, Invisalign aligners are removable - allowing you to eat, brush, and floss without difficulty. Each aligner set for each jaw is made of a flexible, transparent material that makes them virtually invisible when worn.
Which Foods Can I Eat with Invisalign?
Orthodontists often instruct braces weavers to avoid hard and sticky foods, as they can dislodge their metal brackets. This problem has been eliminated with the Invisalign aligners. Since these aligners are removable, you can simply take them off while eating and put them back on once you’re done. This means that you can enjoy all your favorite foods without any difficulty. Besides, Invisalign aligners do not cause speech problems, unlike traditional braces.
Which Foods to Avoid with Invisalign?
Although there is no food restriction with Invisalign aligners per se, certain foods and drinks can damage the aligners.
Coffee and Tea
Even if you remove your aligners while drinking coffee or tea, there are chances that your aligners may get stained. This is because these drinks are rich in strong-colored ingredients. If tea or coffee is your lifeline, then you can prevent the staining of your aligners by rinsing your mouth thoroughly after enjoying these drinks - to ensure complete removal of the staining ingredients.
Sticky Foods
Sticky foods like caramel and chocolates tend to adhere to the teeth firmly. When you wear your aligners after eating them, these food items get sandwiched between the teeth and the aligners - providing the perfect breeding place for harmful bacteria to grow and causing dental problems such as tooth decay and periodontal inflammation.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners do not have a long list of foods and drinks that you should avoid. The idea is to avoid specific foods that adhere to the tooth structure and promote plaque formation, leading to various complications. Although it may not be possible to avoid these foods altogether, your only defense against dental problems while wearing Invisalign aligners is optimal oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing. Besides, you should also visit your dentist or orthodontic during treatment to ensure that underlying dental issues are treated in a timely manner so that they won’t affect your orthodontic treatment progress.
At Perfect Smiles Dentistry, we offer high-quality cosmetic dental services in addition to orthodontic treatment. If you want to know how your smile will look before veneers, please book a consultation appointment with us today. Our team will ensure that you walk away with a charming, healthy, and lasting smile.