One of the biggest perks to wearing invisible braces is that you can remove them to eat and drink. Traditional metal braces make some foods difficult or impossible to consume, but clear aligners leave your chompers in full working order. Nevertheless, there are some tricks to eating with clear braces in order to maximize their efficacy. Read on to learn the right way to eat with invisible braces.
Never Chew with Your Aligners in
Clear aligners look and feel like your natural teeth, but they’re not made to act like teeth. Do not chew with your invisible braces on, even if it’s just a quick snack. There is a high risk of cracking your aligners when this happens, which could delay your progress and lengthen your orthodontic journey. Prepare to remove your aligners every time you want to eat or snack.
Speed up Meals and Snack Strategically
For maximum results, your clear aligners should remain in your mouth for 22 hours a day. That leaves two hours for brushing, flossing, eating and snacking. If you typically take a while to eat, you may want to speed up your meal times.
You might also need to reduce the number of snacks you have throughout the day, depending on your eating habits. You can still enjoy food with invisible braces. Just make sure your eating times do not inhibit the time you wear your braces.
Always Brush after Eating
When you have your clear aligners on, food particles in your teeth have nowhere to go. The longer they sit, the more they fuel tooth-decaying bacteria in your mouth. That is why you should strive to brush your teeth after every meal or snack.
If you don’t have a chance to fully brush, rinse your mouth with mouthwash or swish some water around. Then brush your teeth and clean your aligners when you get home. It may take a little time to incorporate these steps into your routine, but they’ll quickly become good habits for oral health.
Avoid Excessive Chewing When You Switch Trays
You’ll switch to a new aligner tray every two weeks, and your teeth may feel sensitive for the first day of the transition. Be mindful of this as you plan your meals, and avoid anything that requires a lot of chewing. Stick with soft foods and soups while your teeth are a bit sensitive, and then you can resume your normal diet the following day.
Can I Drink with Invisible Braces?
Water is the only liquid that you can drink with your aligners in place. Anything else will likely stain your aligners. Drinking with invisible braces in could also stain your teeth or cause them to decay because of sugar exposure. If you’re going to drink coffee, wine, soda, tea, or anything else aside from water, plan to take out your aligners for the drink.
If you’d like more tips for how to care for invisible braces, contact Clinton Dental Center at (586) 949-5363. We offer clear braces and metal braces at our full-service family dentist office.
