How is eating different with Invisalign?
You may have heard that you will have some dietary restrictions and eating discomfort when having traditional braces for teeth straightening, such as the inability to eat food that is too sticky and hard as it can be stuck in between your braces.
You will also find it more challenging to brush and floss your teeth as the metal wire of your braces is getting in the way.
With Invisalign, these problems are eliminated!
This is because Invisalign aligners are completely detachable during your mealtime, meaning that you can keep your regular diet and eat anything your mouth is craving. However, while Invisalign does not restrict the variety of food you can take, you will still have to change your eating habit a little.
Let’s say that it’s your lunchtime.
- You have ordered your favourite dish and you are ready to dig in.
- Before taking that first bite, you will have to remove your Invisalign and put it inside the container.
- You can now enjoy your lunch as per usual.
- After you finish your food, you will need to go to the nearest restroom to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly before putting on your Invisalign again. This step is really crucial as you do not want to trap food particles and bacteria in between your teeth when Invisalign is on, which can lead to tooth decay.
These are good habits to have to maintain good oral health.
One exception is water. You can drink warm and cold water all you want with Invisalign on. Note that sweet beverages are not water, though! You still need to remove your Invisalign before consuming them.
It is recommended that Invisalign is worn 20-22 hours a day to achieve the optimum result. Therefore, Invisalign should be worn almost at all times, except when eating and drinking.
As you cannot eat with Invisalign on, it is not recommended to snack on something in-between mealtime as you need to abide by the rule of brushing and flossing before putting on your Invisalign. With this in mind, Invisalign is indeed the perfect solution for those who want to reduce snacking and slim down!
If you think that Invisalign sounds like the kind of teeth straightening treatment that you prefer, schedule for a consultation with a dentist to get a tailored for you treatment plan.
If you are still confused and would like to understand more about the differences between Invisalign and the various kinds of braces, you should always talk directly to a dentist/orthodontist and hear what they would advice for your case.
