Can you drink with Invisalign?

Can you drink with Invisalign?

Healthline's article on cleaning Invisalign recommends drinking only water while your aligners are in, because other drinks can stain or damage them. Its comparison of aligners and braces says to take aligners out only to eat or drink, brush or floss, or clean them, and its Invisalign article says to wear them 20 to 22 hours a day. The pages we read do not list which drinks are acceptable beyond water, so the simple rule is water with the aligners in, and remove them for everything else.

Can you drink coffee with Invisalign?

Healthline says drinks other than water can stain aligners, and coffee is a dark drink that commonly stains. The sources we read do not mention coffee by name for aligners. The practical answer is to take the aligners out, drink your coffee, brush or rinse, and put them back. Sipping through the day with aligners in lets liquid sit against your teeth, which raises the risk of stains and decay, a risk Healthline flags when food or drink gets trapped inside aligners.

Can you drink alcohol with Invisalign?

The sources we read do not address alcohol. The same rule applies: only water with aligners in. Healthline also advises avoiding alcohol-based mouthwash when cleaning aligners. If you are drinking socially, take the aligners out, keep them in their case, not in a napkin, and brush before reinserting them.

Can you drink sparkling water with Invisalign?

Not addressed by the sources we read. Plain water is the only drink named as acceptable, so take the aligners out for sparkling water, as for any other drink. Flavored or sweetened sparkling drinks add sugar and acid that can stay against your teeth.

What can you drink with Invisalign?

Water. Cold or room-temperature water is the safe choice, because Healthline warns that very hot water can warp the plastic, though the article's heat warning is about water used for cleaning rather than drinks. For anything else, remove the aligners, as Healthline's comparison article advises for eating and drinking, and ask your orthodontist whether warm drinks like tea are a concern for your trays.

Why do aligners stain, and what to do

Healthline says drinks other than water can stain aligners and that dyed soaps can too. It recommends rinsing the aligners each time you remove them and nightly, then brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush that is not your regular toothbrush and clear, gentle liquid soap, rinsing thoroughly and storing them in a case. Avoid denture cleaners, alcohol-based mouthwash, scented soaps, toothpaste and coarse brushes.

Protecting your teeth

Healthline's comparison lists bacteria build-up and possible cavities if food or drink is trapped inside aligners and staining from liquids among the drawbacks. After a drink or snack, brush before putting the aligners back, or at least rinse your mouth with water. See our Invisalign guides for more.

Building habits that protect your trays

Because aligners must be worn 20 to 22 hours a day, the time you can drink freely is limited to meals and snacks, which is why many people plan their coffee and other drinks around the times the aligners are out. Keep a case with you so the trays are never wrapped in a napkin, where they are easily thrown away, and carry a travel toothbrush so that you can brush before you put them back. Healthline notes that aligners can be lost because they are removable, and replacing them delays treatment. If you find yourself needing to sip drinks throughout the day, tell your orthodontist, who can suggest a schedule that fits your wear time.

Questions to ask your orthodontist

Ask for a written list of rules.

• Which drinks can I have with my aligners in?
• Do I need to brush before putting them back after a drink?
• How should I clean the trays each day?
• What should I do if my aligners stain or warp?
• How many hours a day must I wear them?

Frequently asked questions