Can you eat while wearing your Invisalign aligners?
Everyone wants a straight, radiant smile. Some people need traditional braces to achieve this, while for others, Invisalign fits perfectly and offers an almost invisible solution to help align teeth.
To achieve optimal results with Invisalign, it is essential to wear your aligners for 22 to 24 hours a day. Our dentists recommend eating while wearing your Invisalign aligners, as chewing accelerates tooth movement.
Your dentist can help you determine if Invisalign is a good solution for you and your oral aesthetic goals.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment consisting of a series of clear aligners made with the material SmartTrackensuring optimal comfort during treatment. In addition to being removable and flexible, these aligners help to gradually adjust teeth without the use of wires and brackets found in traditional braces.
Before you begin your Invisalign treatment, a personalized plan will be created to ensure optimal results, according to your goals. Once your aligners are available, You will need to wear them from 10 PM to midnight per day., by changing aligners weekly or bi-weekly, or as recommended by your dentist.
Aligners work gently by creating slight pressure on the teeth to move them into the ideal position.
What can Invisalign correct?
Invisalign technology, like traditional braces, can correct certain orthodontic problems, including:
- overlapping teeth;
- an overocclusion (supraclusion);
- sub-occlusion;
- a malocclusion;
- spaces between the teeth.
If you have undergone other cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as dental implants If you have existing braces or crowns, your dentist can assess your teeth and determine if Invisalign is right for you. Regular dental checkups help ensure your treatment progresses smoothly and allow for adjustments to your treatment plan if needed.
When can you remove your Invisalign aligners?
It is important to wear your Invisalign aligners for at least 22 hours a day. You should only remove your Invisalign aligners when you:
- brush your teeth or floss;
- clean your aligners;
- eat or drink foods that can stain aligners such as tomato sauce, ketchup, chili, etc.
We recommend storing your Invisalign aligners in their protective case each time you remove them. Pro tip: Have several cases so you can safely remove your aligners wherever you are.
What you should know about eating while wearing your Invisalign aligners
Eating while wearing your aligners might seem strange, but it could actually accelerate the movement of your teeth. The slight pressure exerted while chewing stimulates blood circulation around the teeth, helping the aligners apply a constant force and thus speeding up the alignment process.
By wearing your aligners while eating, you also reduce the time you are not wearing them, giving you the best chance of meeting the recommended wearing times.
How to properly care for your Invisalign aligners
Knowing how to take care of your Invisalign aligners can help keep your mouth and teeth healthy throughout your treatment.
Maintain good oral hygiene
After eating, brush and floss your teeth before putting your aligners back in to avoid trapping bacteria and food particles on your teeth. If you don't have access to a toothbrush or floss, at the very least, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.
Clean your Invisalign aligners
Clean your aligners It helps keep your mouth healthy and reduces the risk of cavities. When you remove your Invisalign aligners, it's important to at least rinse them with warm water before putting them back in. Ideally, you should clean them with a toothbrush, or even better, with the Invisalign cleaning system.
No matter how you clean your aligners, it is very important not to use hot water as this could deform the plastic and permanently damage them, thus impacting your treatment.
Have a sense of timing!
Wearing your Invisalign aligners for 22 to 24 hours a day leaves you little time to eat, drink, or take a coffee break. Add to that the time it takes to clean your aligners, and those two hours of downtime each day can pass very quickly. Be sure to keep track of the time you spend without wearing your aligners to avoid slowing down your treatment.
Start your journey towards a straighter smile
Invisalign can help you achieve a radiant smile, with subtlety. Make an appointment Contact REMA Dentists now so our team can assess your situation and we can determine together if Invisalign is right for you.
