With Invisalign, you need to be extra careful regarding their care and maintenance. The biggest issue occurs during eating as most people confuse what they can eat with Invisalign and what is not allowed. To provide you a better understanding of your Invisalign do’s and don’ts, here is a list for what to do when eating with Invisalign:
Things You Can Do While Eating With Invisalign
Although your orthodontist will let you know and also assist you in practicing the following things, however, here is a summary of the things that you can easily do while wearing Invisalign:
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Follow Your Regular Diet
The reason that you have to remove your Invisalign before eating makes it a lot easier for you to follow your previous diet. You can cut your food into smaller pieces or go for a liquid or soft diet. You can eat and drink whatever you like and are habitual of unless your teeth feel tender or painful. However, you need to clean your teeth right after you eat.
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Drink Water
You can drink water just like you used to; remember to drink room temperature or cold water, as hot water can damage your aligners by melting them or altering their shape. However, if you still can’t resist soft drinks, sparkling water, and beverages, it is best o remove your aligners before consuming any such stuff.
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Brush Teeth After Eating
As food particles and substances get stuck between your teeth and gums, cleaning and brushing your teeth right after eating anything is crucial. When you put on your Invisalign right after eating something, the food particles stay trapped in your mouth, multiplying the bacteria. If, in some cases, it is not possible to brush your teeth, consider rinsing your mouth with water.
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Clean the Invisalign
Many people habitually clean their teeth before and after eating. However, their aligners still need specific cleaning of their own. As bacteria can build up in your aligners’ crannies, corners, and crooks, it is always best to clean them with water and a soft toothbrush. Avoid using toothpaste, as its chemical can damage the soft plastic of your Invisalign.
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Place Aligners in the Case When Not Being Used
Always remember to keep your aligners in their case, whenever they are not being used as you want to keep them, given their functionality to your teeth. You can’t get a replacement early and surely wouldn’t want to risk the health of your teeth as well, in the meanwhile.
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Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Even if you visit your orthodontist regularly, having a regular cleaning session with your dentist is still recommended. Wearing Invisalign can keep the bacteria trapped in your mouth, posing a greater risk for oral health. So, visit your dentist regularly to avoid such oral issues.
Don’ts of Eating With Invisalign
As there are things that are allowed to do while wearing Invisalign, there are some below-mentioned things that you clearly shouldn’t do while eating with Invisalign:
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Not Putting Your Invisalign Back On
Most people must remember to put their Invisalign back on after eating and munching. It is important to remember that you need to wear the Invisalign for 22 hours per day to achieve your goal. If you frequently forget to put them back on, you won’t meet the 22-hour requirement and hence won’t feel any difference in your teeth.
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Eating Food When Wearing Aligners
No matter what you are drinking and eating, it is absolutely risky to do so while wearing aligners. Drinks and anything you eat can easily damage and stain the aligners, which can be tricky to clean and repair afterward.
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Leaving Invisalign Within Reach of Pets
No matter how trained your pet is, they will always like to munch or chew on your smooth aligners. It is always best to keep the Invisalign covered and, in their case, to avoid any inconvenience afterward.
Conclusion
To keep your Invisalign clean and well-maintained, you should always take care of them by considering the dos and don’ts mentioned above. If you are looking for some solid and high-quality Invisalign, you can get in touch with our Burke + Beckstrom Orthodontics experts.
