Can I Drink Coffee While Wearing My Invisalign Trays?

It can be an inconvenience for coffee addicts to find out that they can’t enjoy a hot cup of joe while wearing their Invisalign trays. With many of us constantly on the go and only half awake first thing in the morning, we can forget to take our trays out before pouring our first cup of coffee. 

However, it’s important that you do, because Invisalign can’t do its job properly if you don’t follow guidelines. Remember your reasoning for getting Invisalign: to achieve a better, straighter smile. 

The reality is that by consistently drinking beverages like coffee and tea that damage your teeth and Invisalign trays, you’re only doing yourself a disservice. To get the best results, you need to wear your Invisalign for 22 hours a day and take proper precautions with your diet when you are wearing them.

How Coffee & Tea Affect Invisalign Trays

Coffee and tea are no-go drinks when wearing Invisalign trays for 3 main reasons:

• They usually contain high amounts of cream and sugar
• Hot beverages damage the Invisalign molds
• Coffee & tea stain the teeth & your trays
  

The acidity of coffee and the sugar present in the cream and added into the coffee are some of the biggest contributors to tooth decay. Hot beverages of any kind damage the Invisalign trays, which are made of a thermoplastic material and can be warped at high temperatures.

This will negatively affect their ability to properly straighten their teeth. Finally, coffee and tea are notorious teeth-stainers and what’s more, is they can stain your Invisalign trays too.

Drinks to Avoid When Wearing Invisalign

• Hot Beverages
• Alcohol
• Soda
• Juice
• Milk
• Carbonated drinks
  

Noticing a pattern? The only acceptable beverage to drink while wearing your Invisalign trays is water, and even then, temperature matters. Hot water will still damage your Invisalign trays because it distorts the shape of the tray mold. Only drink cold or room temperature water.

How You Can Still Enjoy Your Favorite Beverage

The good news is you don’t have to forego your favorite beverages completely. You just have to make sure you aren’t drinking them while you have your Invisalign trays in. However, you should also make sure that you are wearing your Invisalign trays for 22 hours a day to get the best results.

• Remove your aligners when drinking tea or coffee - When you do have a cup of coffee, tea, or any of the other prohibited drinks that don’t go with Invisalign trays, remember to remove your Invisalign tray first. Don’t store it in a napkin. Put it in its proper storage case and put them back on as soon as possible.
• Reduce your consumption or restrict drinking times - Because you need to be wearing your Invisalign aligners for the majority of the day, the more time you spend drinking beverages that aren’t allowed when you wear your trays, the less time you’re spending with Invisalign on. Ideally, limit your cup of coffee or tea to strictly one time per day or drink it fast and not too frequently.
• Try to drink your coffee black - Cream and sugar contribute to tooth decay so reducing these additives in your coffee will benefit your oral health.
  
• Brush your teeth after drinking - By brushing after drinking tea or coffee, you reduce your risk of developing stains or getting stains trapped in your Invisalign trays.
• Stay hydrated - Drink a glass of water following your cup of tea or coffee. This will help to clear out the residue in your mouth, reduce dry mouth, and bad breath. Fluoride in water contains enamel-protecting qualities
  

Try Invisalign Today!

If you want to achieve a greater, straighter smile, call Lakeview Modern Dentistry at (608) 716-8622 or book online to schedule a consultation. Dr. Kevin DeGroot will perform an oral exam and determine if Invisalign is right for you.