Can I Drink Coffee With Invisalign? What Your Favorite Beverages Mean for Your Smile

What beverages can I drink while wearing Invisalign?

Invisalign is a popular choice for people who are looking to achieve a straighter smile because there are fewer restrictions when compared to traditional metal braces. Invisalign wearers appreciate that they don’t have to limit what they eat while going through their treatment.

However, there is one major question Invisalign wearers have: What beverages can they drink while they are wearing their aligners? The safest bet is water while the aligners are being worn. The Parmer Lane Family Dentistry team has some tips on what you can and can’t drink while you are going through your journey of achieving straight teeth.

What is Invisalign?

If you are looking to achieve a straighter smile but don’t want traditional metal braces, Invisalign may be your answer. Invisalign is a system of plastic aligners that use pressure to gently shift your teeth. These clear aligners are worn for about 22 hours per day. The aligners are changed out about every two weeks, working to gradually shift your teeth into alignment.

Many people choose Invisalign clear aligners over traditional metal braces because Invisalign is nearly invisible, so people won’t realize you are wearing them. Unlike metal braces, you don’t need to avoid sticky or hard, crunchy foods that can stick to or damage the metal brackets. With Invisalign, you simply remove your aligners before you eat or drink, and then replace your aligners when you are done, remembering to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with water before the aligners go back into place.

Why should you remove aligners while drinking?

Invisalign wearers know that they should remove their aligners when they eat, but what about when they drink? The easiest answer is yes, you should remove your aligners when you are drinking.

Clear aligners are made of plastic, so anything hot, like coffee or tea, can warp or even melt the plastic of the aligners, which ruins their shape and can affect your course of treatment.

Any liquid that has staining qualities, like red wine, sodas, and coffee, can also damage your Invisalign aligners. Just as the tannins in these drinks can stain your teeth, they can also stain the clear aligners, which can, in turn, make your teeth look discolored while wearing the aligners.

You should also avoid drinking anything that is high in sugar or that is acidic, like sodas, juices, and even sparkling water. Just like the sugars can eat away at your teeth, excess sugars and acidity can affect the durability of your Invisalign aligners. If you do choose to drink anything other than water, the team at Austin’s Parmer Lane Family Dentistry recommends that you remove your clear aligners while enjoying your drink, and then brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth out before replacing your aligner.

What can you drink while wearing your Invisalign aligners?

If you are looking to consume a beverage while you are wearing your aligners, the safest bet is water. Since water is clear and contains no sugars or tannins, you don’t have to worry about damaging your aligners while you are drinking. Water is also a neutralizer, meaning it helps to balance the pH in your mouth. Water is a good source of hydration, so sipping on water while wearing your Invisalign aligners won’t do any harm.

How can you enjoy coffee and other beverages safely?

If you want to enjoy a beverage other than water, your best bet is to remove your Invisalign aligners as you would to eat. This way, you won’t have to worry about warping or staining your aligners.

When you are finished with your beverage, Parmer Lane Family Dentistry recommends that you brush your teeth or, at the very minimum, rinse out your mouth before putting your Invisalign aligners back in. If you don’t brush or rinse after you enjoy a beverage, you put yourself at risk of trapping sugars in your aligners. This could lead to tooth decay and cavities over time.

Contact Parmer Lane with questions about Invisalign.

While you don’t need to give up your favorite drinks while you are wearing Invisalign aligners, it is recommended that you drink responsibly. If you want to have something to drink other than water, make sure you take your clear aligners out while you are enjoying your beverage. When you are done, remember to rinse out your mouth or brush your teeth before putting your aligners back in.
As always, if you have any questions about your dental journey, make sure you contact the team at Parmer Lane Family Dentistry.