Can You Eat with a Teeth Aligner In? Impact & Tips
Table of Contents
- What to Do With Your Aligner When You Eat
- What Happens If I Eat with It In?
- Will It Affect the Straightening Process?
- Which Foods & Drinks are the Worst
- Is Alcohol Bad?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
Clear aligners have grown in popularity in recent years, particularly among adults looking for minor dental improvements. Designed to straighten teeth and correct your bite for a better smile, most aligners on the market today are clear and nearly invisible to the naked eye.
For adults, clear aligners are particularly attractive since they don’t carry the potential social stigma of more visible braces. Aligners do require a certain amount of care however, leaving many people wondering what they can eat or drink.
Use this guide to learn more about eating with an aligner in and why it should be avoided. You’ll also pick up some basic tips you can use like what to do with your aligner while you’re enjoying a snack or meal.
What to Do with Your Aligner When You Eat
Eating with your aligner in your mouth is generally considered a no-no. While many people risk it for a quick snack or sip of coffee, it’s not recommended for a variety of reasons.
Most aligners are designed to be worn 20 to 22 hours a day. That means that your aligner is going to be in your mouth almost every second you’re not eating a meal, enjoying a snack or drinking any beverage that isn’t plain water.
That leaves many people, particularly people who enjoy meals in restaurants or need to eat lunch at work, wondering what to do with their aligner. Placing it on a table or tossing it into a bag certainly isn’t a sanitary option.
The ideal choice for storing your aligner while you eat is to put it in the form-fitting case that it came in. It will provide proper protection and keep the aligner clean until you’re ready to wear it again.
Here’s the basic process of taking your aligner out and what to do with your aligner when you eat:
Wash your hands before touching your aligner. Clean hands will keep you from spreading germs to your aligner.
Remove your aligner and rinse it with clean water. Use a cleaner recommended by your orthodontist and a soft-bristled toothbrush before thoroughly drying it.
Store your aligner in its case. This will help protect it.
Place your aligner somewhere out of reach or away from foot traffic. Falls and accidents can damage your aligner.
Wait 30 minutes before brushing and flossing so you can put your aligner back in. You should wash your hands before touching your aligner again as well.
What Happens If I Eat with My Aligner In?
Eating with your aligner in is never recommended. Even soft foods and sugar-free gum with xylitol, which can help clean your teeth under normal circumstances, can be problematic when you’re wearing an aligner.
You can cause food particles to get trapped, leading to potential tooth decay and cavities. Starch-rich and sugary foods are particularly problematic, but any food stuck between your teeth and your aligner can cause decay to develop.
You also run the risk of staining your aligner.
Aligners are not designed to withstand the bite force your teeth put on them when eating, and doing so can warp your aligner, making it much less effective and jeopardizing its ability to do its job.
Will It Affect the Straightening Process?
While your aligner is not likely to crack or break, damage is a serious issue that could impact your dental treatment. The worst part is that you might not notice warping or minor damage until your orthodontist checks your aligner during a routine appointment.
If you damage your aligner because you choose to eat it with it, it could mean that you have to wear it longer. While aligners are certainly more comfortable than traditional braces, few people would choose to double or triple their time with them!
Will Certain Foods and Drinks Affect It?
No aligner system is designed with eating in mind. That means that anything you choose to eat could cause damage to your aligner or impact your teeth negatively.
Starch-rich foods like potato chips, bread and pasta are particularly problematic, as are sugary foods like cookies, cakes, candy and ice cream. These foods can lead to tooth decay and cavities if they’re trapped between your teeth and aligner for any length of time.
Hard foods like nuts and apples can also warp your aligner due to the bite force required to chew them. The same goes for biting into remnants of hard candy or even cough drops and throat lozenges.
When it comes to beverages, all drinks besides plain water should be avoided. Sugary sodas, juice and sweet coffee and tea drinks are particularly problematic, as are acidic drinks like energy drinks and some sparkling water beverages.
While you can enjoy ice water, it’s important to note that extremely hot and cold beverages can damage your aligner. Dark beverages like coffee and tea – even if you don’t add sugar -- can stain your aligner.
Is Alcohol Bad?
You’re out on the town with friends, and like a good patient, you’re wearing your aligner for the recommended 20 to 22 hours. It’s natural to think that you’re doing your teeth a favor by wearing your aligner in these situations.
Unfortunately, alcohol shouldn’t be consumed with your aligner in.
That’s because alcohol, just like soda or juice, contains sugar. Add in a mixer like tonic water, soda or juice and you’ve got a beverage that’s packed with sugar even if the powerful taste of alcohol might mask it.
Even beer and wine have a considerable amount of sugar, though not necessarily as much as a mixed drink. If you’re wearing your aligner, it’s not the time to sip a cocktail or enjoy a beer.
If you must imbibe, take your aligner out before having a drink, following our best removal practices. Just know that if you’ve taken your aligner out for multiple meals and snacks, you may be getting close to having it out for more than the recommended two to four hours per day.