Foods to Avoid with Invisalign & Braces
This time, we’ll look at foods to avoid with Invisalign & braces. Don’t worry; you’ll be eating all your favorites again when treatment is complete. Today, you can get results faster and more comfortably than before. In the end, it’s worth the temporary inconvenience of watching what you eat to get a perfect smile for life!
If you wear braces, then the list of foods to avoid is longer. Why? Braces don’t come off like Invisalign. So, you can’t pop them out while you eat or while you clean your teeth. Thus, hard, crunchy, sticky, and chewy foods can damage braces.
However, some foods are best to avoid with Invisalign and braces. That’s especially true today, as we are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, maintaining your oral health is more important than ever. So, let’s look at some general rules to follow.
See more about foods to avoid with braces here.
Foods to Avoid with Invisalign and Braces
As noted, it’s a good idea to avoid foods that are:
- Chewy
- Crunchy
- Sticky
- Hard
Following this simple rule is always a good idea with braces. Also, it’s a good thing to keep in mind with Invisalign. Although aligners come out, these types of foods can coat your teeth, wear down the enamel, and promote tooth decay.
View this post on Instagram
With this in mind, here are foods to avoid with Invisalign and braces:
- Caramels
- Chewing gum
- Jawbreakers (best avoided in general)
- Jellybeans
- Licorice
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Sour candy
- Suckers
- Starbursts
- Taffy
If you do partake of any of these, use extra care to rinse, brush, and floss afterward. However, note that these foods can damage braces, often requiring an emergency visit to correct.
Solutions for Your Sweet Tooth
If you love sweets, you don’t have to go without altogether. However, it’s best to limit them and stick only to treats that are very soft.
- 3 Musketeers
- Cake (soft without toppings)
- Chocolate (without caramel or nuts)
- Cookies
- KitKats
- Marshmallows
- Peanut butter cups
Thus, you can still satisfy your cravings for sweets. Just be sure to clean well after eating snacks and desserts like these.
View this post on Instagram
Avoid Sugary Drinks with Invisalign and Braces
As you probably expect, it’s a good idea to avoid sugary drinks when wearing Invisalign. That’s especially true while you wear them since they seep around the aligners and can stain them. (as well as your teeth)
As we know, sodas promote cavities, and this includes diet drinks.
Thus, it’s a good idea to avoid or limit:
- Acidic liquids
- Energy and sport drinks
- Flavored water
- Fruit drinks
- Sodas, including diet
Watch Out for Hot Drinks
Also, hot drinks can warp aligners, so never drink hot tea or coffee while your aligners are in place. What does this leave to drink while your aligners are in place? Try to stick to plain water if possible.
Hot drinks aren’t likely to warp braces but could stain them, particularly the clear braces.
Foods and Drinks That Stain Invisalign & Braces
As we’ve seen, it’s best to avoid sugary drinks and hot beverages if you are wearing aligners. Besides, some drinks and foods will stain aligners and braces. Thus, there are a few more items to avoid if you can.
Foods and Drinks That Stain:
- Balsamic vinegar
- Beer
- Beets
- Berries
- Coffee
- Currants
- Curry
- Food colorings (not all)
- Grape juice
- Mustard
- Tea
- Tomatoes
- Red Wine
- Soy sauce
Staining foods can be more of a problem with clear braces, although they are resistant to staining. With Invisalign, you generally have more freedom to enjoy what you like as long as your aligners are out.
Questions? Feel free to call us at (647) 344-9473, and we’ll be happy to help!
Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest content and updates.
