Drinking with Invisalign: what can you drink with the trays in?
Which drinks are safe with Invisalign? What about using a straw? Everything you need to know about drinking with your Invisalign trays.
Invisalign is a gentle, successful way to straighten teeth with "invisible" aligners. The trays are clear and very comfortable to wear. The treatment does not restrict your eating habits or your oral hygiene routine. After a short adjustment period you will probably forget you are even wearing them. When it comes to drinking during Invisalign therapy, though, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Drinking with Invisalign
The golden rule: take your trays out as soon as you drink anything other than water. Colored drinks will stain the aligners, and sugary drinks with the trays in are bad for your teeth. Hot drinks can even warp the aligners. As soon as the trays are out, however, you can keep enjoying any drink without restrictions. No need to give up red wine, coffee or tea — as long as the trays are not in your mouth.
Colored drinks and a stained tray
A stained tray has no medical downsides for your Invisalign treatment, but it does make the aligner more visible in your mouth. If you accidentally drink something with color while the trays are in, do not panic. With most drinks it takes more than a sip or two to fully stain the aligners. Still, try to get the colored liquid off the tray as quickly as possible. The faster you act, the less the aligners can take on color.
You can clean the tray as usual with a regular toothbrush and a small amount of gel toothpaste. Here you can find a video on how to clean the aligners. If you have a bit more time, you can also give your trays a thorough clean with the Invisalign cleaning crystals or special cleaning tablets.
Another reason trays end up stained: putting them straight back in right after eating or drinking something colored. On top of the health benefits, brushing matters here so the color particles do not transfer onto the tray.
Worth noting: After eating blueberries, curry, turmeric or beets, brush your teeth especially thoroughly.
Brushing regularly
Juices and sugary drinks like cola, Fanta and so on can not only stain the aligners but, combined with poor oral hygiene, also promote cavities. The sugar from the drinks sticks to the tray and creates a perfect environment for cavities to develop on the tooth. So watch out: brush your teeth after drinking them. If you love smoothies, work flossing into your between-meal routine — that is exactly where small particles love to get stuck between teeth.
With Invisalign you have none of the daily restrictions that come with wires or brackets. So as long as you stick to the cleaning recommendations, there is no increased risk of cavities.
Drinking with Invisalign through a straw
A lot of patients ask: can I drink things other than water through a straw? If there really is no other option, you can use a straw and try to swallow each sip before the liquid spreads through your mouth. This should stay the exception rather than the rule, however tempting it may be. Your mouth still comes into contact with the colored or sugary drink. So the same rule applies: brush your teeth and your trays at the next opportunity.