Eating with clear aligners: tips to enjoy food while in treatment

You might think that drinking with aligners or eating with aligners needs to signal the end of food freedom and drinking delicious cups of whatever your morning favourite is, but it doesn’t have to be.

There are a few key guidelines, we advise our patients to follow. You'll find that guidance and a few top questions we get about eating and drinking with aligners, in this article. We're also sharing recommendations about what to do so you don’t have to miss out on good meals, or good times while you go through aligner treatment.

Can you eat with clear aligners?

Clear aligners are made to be removed while you eat, giving you the freedom to eat without obstructions during your treatment, unlike when using metal braces.

From bread to boiled sweets, you should remove your aligners whenever you eat, rinsing both your aligners and your mouth after consumption. Brushing after eating food should be at minimum twice a day, using a soft bristle brush to clean out your aligners and to remove any debris from your teeth, before reinserting your clear aligner.

What can I eat with aligners on?

As mentioned before, the ideal situation whilst going through aligner treatment is to remove aligners before eating. We know that sometimes scenarios aren’t ideal, but you'll protect the integrity of your aligners and your progress by adhering to this no.1 tip.

Advantages of clear aligners: why they might be right for you

Aligners are often chosen by people who value having the same freedoms day-to-day while straightening their teeth. It’s necessary to wear the aligners consistently, but you can remove your aligners to enjoy the same foods as before. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of aligner treatment.

Remote check-in options:

Impress aligner treatment is a mix of in-person and remote photo monitoring using the Impress app. Following your treatment without regular interruption to your week is one of the key lifestyle benefits.

• Impress patients are required to upload the photos of their teeth each week
• The medical team review the photos and confirm you're on track
• You will receive an update, telling you it's time to switch to the next aligner in the kit

Food freedom:

With aligners, you still have the freedom to eat whatever you want. Just pop out your aligners beforehand; there are no food restrictions like with braces, which limit hard or sticky foods.

Easy to maintain and clean:

• Removing the aligners and keeping them in the travel case prevents any damage or loss to the aligner tray.
• Remove them before drinking or eating foods
• Cleaning them regularly ensures tarnish or damage to your aligner, and the buildup of residue.
• Remember, rich colour foods and drinks can be the worst culprits of staining.

Total discretion:

Aligners often go unnoticed to the untrained eye, so you can enjoy your treatment and the discretion that comes with using aligners.

How to care for your aligners after food

• Be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly following any meal. 
• Only drink water throughout the day to maintain your oral health and to keep your mouth hydrated. 
• Clean your aligners as soon after eating as possible to get rid of any residue and debris that might be lingering in gaps between your teeth and inside your aligner tray.

What happens if you eat with aligners on?

Eating while wearing your clear aligners presents its own set of issues. Although the material used to make aligners is durable, it isn’t meant to be used to chew with, so there is always a risk of breaking your aligner device if you continually wear it to eat.

Foods to avoid with aligners

Sticky, chewy, hard and crunchy foods can all tend to damage your aligner, or just be quite difficult to clean off your teeth and your aligners. Remember to: make it bite-sized, smaller pieces prevent pressure and food from getting stuck. Stringy veg, or tricky food such as corn on the cob, can also cause a problem, so opt for softer choices when possible.

Don’t forget to put your aligner back in

The success of your treatment depends on wearing your aligner 20-22 hours each day, so always clean your teeth, your aligner and re-insert them as soon as possible after eating.

Leaving them out for extended periods of time can lengthen the overall time of your treatment and delay your progress. Set a reminder that alerts you every lunchtime to also put your aligners back in until it becomes a habit.

If you're interested in how aligner treatment would work for you, book to see us at a clinic near you, or give us a call at +1.888.490.1421. We specialise in a patient-centred approach at Impress, and our initial consultations are non-obligatory. We look forward to meeting you soon.