Arnold Dental – Foods to avoid during Invisalign treatment

Dentists give people who undergo teeth straightening with metal braces a long list of foods to avoid during their treatment. One of the great benefits of clear braces, such as Invisalign, is that you don’t have to limit your diet, so you can still enjoy the foods you love during your treatment!

With that being said, you should make sure that you are always removing your aligners when eating or drinking (except for water), and there are still a few foods and drinks that you should think about cutting down on. In this post, our dentists in Nottingham will outline some of the foods and drinks you might want to avoid if you want to get the most out of your treatment.

Crunchy Foods

You should eat hard, crunchy foods such as raw carrots, nuts, and hard-shelled breads with caution. These foods can chip and break your aligners, and you will need to replace them to continue your treatment. We recommend softer breads, fruits and cooked veg instead to avoid damaging your teeth.

Sticky Foods

Sticky foods such as sweets can also interfere with your teeth straightening treatment. These foods can stick to the aligners or trap themselves between your teeth, causing a buildup of plaque, tartar, and bacteria. If you need a sweet treat, we would recommend something like a soft cookie, cake, or marshmallows.

Tea and Coffee

Hot drinks such as tea and coffee are notorious for staining teeth and causing them to turn yellow. You can say the same for clear braces. Drinking these can stain your clear braces and make your teeth appear more yellow than they are. Drinking hot liquids while wearing your aligners can also warp the plastic and prevent them from properly aligning your teeth.

Alcoholic Drinks

Everyone should consume alcoholic drinks in moderation, especially those with clear braces. Red wines can heavily stain your aligners, and carbonated drinks contain lots of sugar which can cause your braces to become sticky and uncomfortable to wear. These acidic drinks are also bad for your general dental health, as they can erode tooth enamel and lead to decay.

Of course, you don’t have to cut out all of these foods completely – after all, one of the great benefits of clear braces is that you don’t have to! But if you want your treatment to be as quick and easy as possible, reducing how much of these foods you eat can speed up the process and avoid any potential complications during your treatment.

It’s also important to remove your braces when eating and drinking. Remember to clean your aligners properly to keep them looking clean and working as they should.

Our team of dentists in Nottingham can help you to get started on your Invisalign journey, simply get in touch or book online to arrange a consultation for a straighter smile!