Eating & Drinking with Invisalign: Complete Guide

The golden rule: always remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything except water. Unlike braces, Invisalign has no food restrictions—you can eat whatever you like, as long as you remove the aligners first.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

Yes, you can eat whatever you like while getting Invisalign treatment—as long as you remove the aligners before eating. Even though aligners are strong enough to be in your mouth all day, they will quickly crack and stain if you try eating food with them in.

Good news: Unlike braces, Invisalign doesn't come with a long "do not eat" list. You can still enjoy apples, popcorn, pizza crust, or raw carrots—you just need to take trays out first and brush before putting them back in.

Why Is It Bad to Eat with Invisalign?

Eating and drinking while wearing your trays can cause problems with both your aligners and your teeth:

• Cracking and warping: Clear trays are not designed to handle constant chewing motion
• Food trapped inside: Leading to cavities, gum disease, and bad breath
• Staining: Aligners easily pick up stains from colored foods
• Tooth decay: Sugar and acid trapped against teeth accelerates decay

Some of the biggest offenders:

• Hard and crunchy foods: Can crack aligners (pizza crust, nuts)
• Acidic or sugary foods: Can lead to cavities (sodas, candy)
• Sticky foods: Will stick to aligners (do not chew gum!)

What Happens If I Eat with Invisalign In?

Eating food while wearing aligners can damage both your aligners and your teeth. Either outcome will delay your Invisalign treatment:

• Replacement aligners: Usually cost $50-100 each and can take several weeks to be remade
• Cavities and gum disease: Treatment can cost much more and delay your orthodontic progress

Can You Drink with Invisalign?

You should only drink water while wearing clear aligners. If you want to drink something other than water, you should take your aligners out first, then rinse your mouth well before putting them back in.

Why? Sugary or acidic drinks (like sodas or lemon water) will go under your aligners and cause tooth decay or damage to your enamel. Colored beverages (like coffee or tea) will cause hard-to-remove brown and black staining.

Complete Drink Guide

Can You Drink Coffee with Invisalign?

Yes, but you need to remove the clear trays first. While coffee is by itself not bad for your teeth, it can lead to problems when it gets under your aligners:

• Stains on the aligners and teeth
• Change of shape to your aligners (like any hot drinks)
• Enamel damage (coffee is acidic)
• Tooth decay (if it has sugar)

Tip: If you're a coffee lover, plan your coffee breaks around meal times to minimize how often you remove aligners.

How to Eat at Restaurants with Invisalign

Eating at restaurants is no problem once you get used to the routine:

1. Excuse yourself to the bathroom to remove aligners discreetly
2. Place aligners in your carrying case—never in a napkin, pocket, or next to your plate (the most common way to lose them!)
3. Enjoy your meal without restrictions
4. After eating, either wait until you return home to brush, or use a travel toothbrush
5. Rinse your mouth with water if you can't brush immediately
6. Reinsert aligners once teeth are clean

Pro tip: Order a few extra spare retainer cases from Amazon to always have one handy. Both brand-name Invisalign cases and generic ones work well.

The Post-Meal Routine

1. Remove aligners and store in case
2. Eat your meal (enjoy anything you want!)
3. Brush your teeth (or at minimum, rinse thoroughly with water)
4. Rinse aligners under lukewarm water
5. Reinsert aligners

As annoying as this routine sounds at first, you'll quickly get used to it. Many people find they stop snacking between meals and drink more water—leading to healthier habits overall.

Travel and Everyday Tips

• Pack a travel kit: Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and aligner case
• Brush or rinse after meals before reinserting trays
• Keep spare cases in your bag, car, and office
• If you play sports: Aligners add light protection, but you still need a custom mouthguard for contact sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I can't brush after eating?

Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and rinse your aligners before reinserting. Brush as soon as possible. Carry a travel toothbrush for convenience.

Can I chew gum with Invisalign?

No! Gum sticks to aligners and is very difficult to remove. If you want to chew gum, remove aligners first and brush before reinserting.

Will I lose weight with Invisalign?

Many people report significant weight loss during Invisalign treatment! The routine of removing aligners, eating, brushing, and reinserting discourages mindless snacking. It's an unintended benefit for some patients.

How long can I have aligners out for meals?

Try to keep meals under 1 hour to maintain your 22 hours/day wear time. If you're eating out or at a special event, don't stress—just get back to wearing them as soon as practical.

Can I drink through a straw with aligners in?

Using a straw can help minimize contact with aligners, but it's still not recommended for anything except water. Liquid can still seep under aligners and cause staining or decay.

What if I accidentally eat with aligners in?

Remove them immediately, rinse your mouth and aligners thoroughly, and brush your teeth. Check aligners for cracks or damage. One accident won't ruin treatment, but don't make it a habit.

Enjoy Your Food Freedom

Eating with Invisalign is simple once you establish the routine: remove aligners, eat anything you want, brush, and reinsert. The freedom to eat without restrictions is a major advantage over braces.

Just remember:

• Always remove aligners before eating or drinking (except water)
• Store aligners in their case—never in a napkin
• Brush teeth before reinserting
• Keep your aligners clean

With these habits, you'll enjoy all your favorite foods while achieving a beautiful, straight smile.