This time, we’re looking at foods to avoid with Invisalign & braces. In our previous post, we looked at foods to eat with braces.

As you may know, Invisalign is convenient because you can take out the aligners when you eat or brush your teeth. Consequently, you don’t have to be as careful about what you eat.

On the other hand, there are some foods and drinks to limit or avoid when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. While you are wearing aligners or braces, it’s essential to maintain top oral health and avoid tooth decay. By doing so, you can have a smoother treatment and get results faster.

Also, avoiding or limiting some foods means your treatment stays discreet. For example, some foods could stain aligners or clear braces. Then, you could have unsightly yellowish aligners, not a great look!

Some Foods Leave a Stain

While you’re wearing Invisalign or clear braces, there are some staining foods to try to limit or avoid. If you do partake, be sure to rinse, brush and floss afterward. Of course, it’s always best to take out your Invisalign aligners whenever eating or drinking something other than water.

Staining foods (not a complete list):

Tea
Beets
Curry
Coffee
Berries
Mustard
Tomatoes
Red Wine
Soy sauce
Grape juice
Balsamic Vinegar
Some food colorings

If a food or drink is likely to stain your clothes, it might stain your aligners or clear braces. Fortunately, clear ceramic braces are resistant to stains, but these foods could discolor brackets over time.

Hot Liquids and Aligners Don’t Mix

One area where Invisalign is a bit more vulnerable is with hot liquids. Unfortunately, the thin SmartTrack material could warp if exposed to hot drinks. Also, it’s best to avoid cleaning them with hot water.

Fortunately, the thin aligners are relatively comfortable because they are thin and fit your mouth exactly. However, they can be fragile, so you must treat them carefully and protect them.

Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks

This one won’t come as a surprise: It’s always a good plan to limit sugary foods and drinks. However, this is particularly true while you’re working on your smile. Sugary foods and drinks leave a film on teeth that increases tooth decay risk. Therefore, the American Association of Orthodontists suggests limiting or avoiding sugar with Invisalign.

With braces, it’s a bit trickier to clean your teeth thoroughly. Thus, it’s even more important to limit sweets during treatment. Don’t worry, though; you can still enjoy a soft sweet treat occasionally – be sure to rinse and clean your teeth after.

Avoid drinks like these:

Sodas
Acidic liquids
Flavored water
Fruit drinks
Sports drinks
Energy drinks

Notably, some bottled waters can be acidic and won’t contain fluoride. So, it’s a good idea to choose fluoridated bottled water.

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Hard, Sticky, Chewy, Crunch, Staining Foods

In our prior post about foods to eat with braces, it’s best to avoid foods that are:

Hard
Sticky
Chewy
Crunchy
Staining

With Invisalign, you can enjoy foods like these when your aligners are out. However, limiting them is a good idea to maintain oral health. With braces, it’s essential to watch out for foods in these categories. Otherwise, you could require an emergency visit to fix a loose or broken wire or bracket.