Eating, Drinking and Vaping with Invisalign

You should not eat, smoke or vape with Invisalign in, and the only drink to have with aligners in is cold plain water; take the aligners out for everything else, brush or at least rinse, and put them back within about 30 minutes so you still reach around 22 hours of wear a day.

At Orthodontists London we go through these rules when your first aligners are fitted, so you can plan your day around them.

Can you eat with Invisalign in?

No. Chewing with aligners in can crack or distort them, and food gets trapped between the aligner and your teeth, where it sits against the enamel until you next clean. That raises the risk of decay and gum inflammation. Always take aligners out to eat, store them in their case, and clean your teeth before putting them back.

The upside is that there are no food restrictions. Unlike fixed braces, you can eat crusty bread, apples, toffee and nuts, because the aligners are not in your mouth while you eat.

What can you drink with Invisalign in?

Only cold water. Plain still or sparkling water is fine. Anything else is best drunk with aligners out:

• Hot drinks can soften and warp the plastic, so the aligner no longer fits accurately.
• Tea, coffee and red wine stain aligners, making them more noticeable.
• Sugary or acidic drinks, including fruit juice, cola, sports drinks and squash, get held against the teeth by the aligner, rather than being washed away by saliva. That is a recipe for decay and enamel erosion.
• Flavoured or sweetened water often contains acids or sweeteners and is best treated like any other drink.

If you do have a drink other than water with aligners in by mistake, take them out, rinse both the aligners and your mouth with water, and put them back.

Can you drink coffee with Invisalign?

Not with the aligners in. Take them out, drink your coffee, then rinse your mouth with water and, ideally, brush before putting them back. Sipping a coffee over two hours is the hardest habit to fit around aligners, because the aligners are out for the whole time. Drinking it in one go, then cleaning and putting the aligners back, keeps your wear time on track.

Can you smoke with Invisalign?

You should not smoke with aligners in. Smoke stains aligners yellow and leaves residue trapped against the teeth. Smoking also reduces blood flow to the gums, raises the risk of gum disease and can slow healing, none of which helps tooth movement. If you smoke, take the aligners out, and rinse or brush before putting them back. Treatment is a good time to stop altogether, and your GP or pharmacy can help.

Can you vape with Invisalign?

It is best to take aligners out to vape. Vapour can leave a film on the aligners, making them cloudy, and some flavoured liquids contain sweeteners and colourings. Nicotine reduces blood flow to the gums and is linked to gum problems. If you vape occasionally with aligners in, rinse them and your mouth afterwards and clean them carefully each day. If you vape often, removing aligners every time will eat into your 22 hours, so cutting down makes treatment easier.

Can you drink alcohol with Invisalign?

Yes, with the aligners out. Wine, beer, cocktails and spirits with mixers contain sugar, acid or colour. On a night out, take your case, take the aligners out to drink, rinse with water before putting them back and brush when you get home. Try not to sleep without your aligners. If you are going to be out for hours, drinking water between drinks lets you put the aligners back in for part of the evening.

How long can you leave Invisalign out to eat?

Aim to keep each break to about 30 minutes, and your total time without aligners to about two hours a day. That means three meals and perhaps one or two drinks, with little room for grazing. Here is how a typical day can work:

Do you have to brush your teeth every time you eat with Invisalign?

Ideally, yes. Brushing before putting aligners back stops food and sugar being held against your teeth. When you cannot brush, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and brush at the next chance. Many people carry a travel toothbrush and a small tube of fluoride toothpaste. Clean the aligners too: rinse them when you take them out and brush them gently morning and night. Our guide to cleaning Invisalign aligners explains how.

What happens if you eat with Invisalign in?

A one-off may do no harm, but regularly eating with aligners in can crack or distort them, so they stop fitting and moving the teeth as planned. Food and sugar trapped under the aligners also raise the risk of decay and gum inflammation. If an aligner cracks or no longer fits snugly, contact us.

Does Invisalign help you snack less?

Many patients find it does. Because each snack means removing aligners and brushing, people often cut down on grazing during treatment. That is good for teeth too, as frequent snacking and sipping sugary drinks is one of the biggest causes of decay.

Planning your treatment

If your lifestyle involves lots of coffee, client lunches or travel, mention it at consultation. For some people, fixed braces are simpler because there is nothing to take out. Our comparison of Invisalign vs braces covers daily life with each, and our guide to how Invisalign works explains the routine in full.

Request a consultation through our online form and we will be in touch to arrange it.

Frequently asked questions

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