Removable Invisalign aligners are an increasingly popular choice for people seeking straight teeth without the restrictions of traditional braces. Because you can take them out, Invisalign aligners are especially great for ensuring that you can eat and drink throughout your treatment just like you did before. But, does this include beverages with the potential to stain, such as coffee?
If coffee means a lot in your morning routine and throughout the day, your first question before pursuing treatment is likely ‘Can I drink coffee with Invisalign?’ And, you’ll be pleased to know that the short answer is yes.
Coffee and Invisalign: Can They Coexist?
You dream of straight teeth, but you also love coffee. Do you have to choose between them? Not with Invisalign. With proper aligner care, Invisalign and coffee can be the perfect pairing.
If you’re worried, you can remove your aligners to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, as long as you don’t remove them for longer than two hours throughout the day. As our experts here at Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics will tell you, you’ll want to keep your aligners in for at least 22 hours a day to give your treatment the best results.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Drinking Coffee With Invisalign
Do:
- Remove your aligners before drinking coffee: If you’re worried about drinking coffee with Invisalign, or you enjoy drinking your coffee when it’s piping hot, you can always remove your aligners beforehand. Do bear in mind, though, that you shouldn’t remove your Invisalign for any longer than two hours each day.
- Use a straw: If you have a heavy coffee habit, then you may be best off opting to drink coffee through a straw. This can minimize contact between your drink and your aligners, reducing the risk of issues like staining.
- Clean your aligners after coffee: To avoid plaque buildup and potential issues like staining, gum disease and tooth decay, you should thoroughly clean your aligners in lukewarm water after drinking coffee.
- Rinse your mouth: You should always rinse your mouth well with water after drinking coffee, as this will keep your mouth fresh, reduce risks of staining, and remove any residual sugar that could otherwise lead to dental issues.
- Brush and floss: Regular brushing and flossing is vital during any Invisalign treatment, but it’s doubly important when drinking beverages like coffee, especially if you take sugar. You don’t necessarily need to rush home to brush after every brew but do try to brush after drinking coffee where you can to keep your teeth as healthy as possible.
Don’t
- Drink piping hot coffee: Invisalign aligners are made of clear plastic and are designed to be a close fit for your teeth. With that in mind, you should always be wary of temperature when you drink coffee with Invisalign. In particular, avoid piping hot drinks and instead wait until they’ve cooled, or opt for iced coffee.
- Remove aligners too often: Removing your aligners to eat and drink is one of the main benefits of Invisalign treatment, but results are reliant on you wearing aligners for at least 22 hours a day. Heavy coffee drinkers should make sure they aren’t removing their aligners too often as this can delay treatment.
- Worry too much: Ultimately, you don’t need to worry too much about drinking coffee with Invisalign. This cutting-edge treatment makes it possible to enjoy your favorite food and drinks with ease.
Iced Coffee and Invisalign: A Match Made in Aligner Heaven?
While you can drink whatever you like during Invisalign treatment, hot beverages do pose some risk of warping your clear aligner. This could result in permanent damage and potentially diminished results. If you love hot drinks but don’t want to take that risk, iced alternatives are a great option.
For instance, if you’re asking can I drink iced coffee with Invisalign, the resounding answer is yes. In fact, it’s often better that you do! Iced coffee is also a lot easier to drink through a straw, which means there’s less risk coffee will come into contact with your aligners at all.
Clear Aligners and Coffee: What You Need to Know
To recap, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a lovely cup of coffee as often as you want while seeking Invisalign treatment. Still, it’s vital to note that regularly indulging in hot coffee does pose some risks to your Invisalign clear aligners if you don’t take proper precautions, including possible staining, potential warping, and even the risk of delayed treatment during regular removal.
Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to avoid any of those risks, including simply –
- Maintaining dental hygiene
- Regularly cleaning aligners
- Drinking tepid or iced coffee
- Drinking through a straw
- And more
In other words, Invisalign is the ideal dental treatment for you, even if you love a good brew.
Ask Our Experts
If you still have questions, like can you drink coffee with clear aligners, then get in touch with our experts at Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics by booking your free consultation today. As a Blue Diamond Plus Top 1% Invisalign provider, we’ll work closely with you to develop a fully tailored dental plan that always makes room for daily priorities like coffee. Straight teeth have never been easier to achieve!
