Investing in your smile is a big step. When you consider that orthodontics could take up to two years to achieve the results you want, you’ll soon realise this is a significant undertaking. We recommend every patient thinks carefully about their decision before they choose their orthodontic treatment.
Since Invisalign is a removable system, the temptation to skip wearing your aligners will always be present. But if you can’t commit to wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours per day, the treatment won’t be effective. If you suspect you might skip hours or days, a fixed system might be more appropriate.
There are also plenty of other considerations, such as your job, hobbies and lifestyle choices. In this blog, we will attempt to answer some of the most common questions we hear from Invisalign patients and those considering treatment.
Can you drink with Invisalign?
You can drink water while wearing your Invisalign aligners, but if you’re planning to enjoy a hot beverage or anything other than water, you will need to remove them. Hot liquids can warp the material and make it less effective, while colours in drinks can stain your aligners.
If you’re on a night out, it would be better to leave your aligners out, because alcohol has high sugar content. If this sugar settles between your aligners and your teeth, this could lead to decay. Leaving your aligners out occasionally is not ideal, but it shouldn’t delay treatment too much. However, if this is a regular habit, Invisalign might not be right for you.
Can you eat with Invisalign?
No food is off-limits with Invisalign, but you do have to remove your aligners before you eat. This is great news if you’re a fan of foods that would not be allowed with traditional fixed braces, such as popcorn or pizza crust.
Since you have to remove and rinse your aligners every time you eat, many people find that they cut out snacking during their Invisalign treatment.
Can you pause Invisalign treatment?
If you are struggling with the treatment for any reason, we recommend you get in touch with your dentist. If you stop treatment, your teeth will begin to revert to their former position, which would mean you would need to start again with a new series of aligners. This is why we don’t recommend pausing treatment until you have consulted with your dentist.
Can you smoke with Invisalign?
No, you cannot smoke while wearing Invisalign. The heat from the smoke could warp your aligners and the smoke and nicotine will also cause discolouration. The same goes for vaping. You will need to remove your aligners to smoke or vape, but quitting would be an even better choice for your health.
Can you take your aligners off when you need to?
Yes, you can take out your aligners if you need to. A great example would be if you are delivering a presentation at work and don’t want your aligners to impact your speech or be visible to your audience. Provided you are wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours per day, you should have no issue taking them out for a short time.
Can you chew gum while wearing aligners?
No, chewing gum is off limits while you’re wearing Invisalign aligners. The gum would stick to the aligners and be very difficult to remove. However, chewing while wearing your aligners can provide some relief from the discomfort of changing aligners.
Invisalign chewies are small pieces of plastic that you can bite while wearing your aligners. Biting can help to make your aligners fit better and ease some of the discomfort associated with moving to the next aligner in the series.
If you’re considering Invisalign treatment, get in touch to arrange your consultation!
