Invisalign and Your Diet
Enjoy Total Freedom in Your Everyday Life
Food isn’t only an essential in life, but it’s also an enjoyable part of it too. Whether you’re planning a first date or deciding what to do with friends, often the first thing that comes to mind is going out to eat. Even if you don’t have much in common with someone, it’s likely that you’ll enjoy at least some of the same foods.
With the large variety of cuisines available to us, the last thing you want is to be restricted to only certain foods. However, traditional braces do just this.
That’s why Dr. Borham recommends Invisalign. These clear aligners allow you to eat a variety of foods without hesitation.
Discover how Invisalign will give you more freedom with your diet than metal braces.
What Foods Can I eat With Invisalign?
One of the many benefits of Invisalign is that you can keep eating all your favorite foods. There’s no need to cut out popcorn or sticky foods that are recommended against while wearing metal braces.
While you can eat what you please during Invisalign treatment, it’s crucial that you take your aligners out before consuming anything besides water. This will prevent you from damaging or staining them. As long as you’re wearing your clear aligners for 20-22 hours a day, they’ll straighten your teeth effectively.
Caring For Your Mouth After Each Meal
If you want both your teeth and clear aligners to remain bacteria-free and looking beautiful, it’s crucial that you care for them properly. After eating or drinking anything, simply brush your teeth. 
This will ensure the plaque is removed from your teeth and not transferred to your aligners.
It’s even more important that you complete your whole oral care routine both in the morning and at night. This means brushing and flossing your teeth and rinsing with an alcohol-free mouthwash.
To clean your aligners, rinse them with water and gently brush them with a toothbrush. You can also purchase the Invisalign cleaning system for maximum freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any foods or drinks I can’t have with Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are removable, so you can enjoy any food or beverage you want — just make sure to take your aligners out first. It’s also essential to keep your aligners in for at least 20 hours per day, so plan your meals accordingly to ensure you get enough to eat.
How do I keep crumbs out of my aligners?
Most importantly, you’ll need to remove your Invisalign trays before consuming any food or beverage other than water. You’ll also want to brush your teeth after meals before putting your aligners back in. This prevents crumbs and other bacteria from getting trapped in your aligners.
In addition, you can clean your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste or gentle soap. We recommend the Invisalign cleaning system for optimal results.
What happens if I eat with my aligners in?
It’s crucial to the success of your treatment that you don’t eat anything with your aligners in. In addition to trapping food in your trays and increasing your risk of infection, chewing food with Invisalign will likely break your aligners. Neglecting to remove them for even just one meal could result in permanent damage and derail your treatment.
Contact Our Office in Las Cruces to Get Started
If you want an orthodontic option that doesn’t hold you back from eating certain foods, Invisalign may be the right solution for you. Give us a call at (575) 523-5589 or simply fill out our contact form below to learn more about the clear aligners that’ll change your life.