What can you eat and drink with clear aligners

One of the biggest advantages of clear aligners like Invisalign or Angel Aligners is that you can take them out to eat and drink. No food restrictions, no worrying about getting bits stuck in your braces – just remove your aligners, enjoy your meal and pop them back in afterwards.

Here’s how to keep your aligners in excellent condition and your treatment on track.

Take them out for anything other than water

You can drink plain water with your aligners in, but for everything else – food, fizzy drinks, coffee, tea, juice – you’ll need to remove them first.

This isn’t just about keeping your aligners clean (though that’s part of it). Hot drinks can warp the plastic, which affects the fit and could slow down your treatment. Sugary or acidic drinks can get trapped between your teeth and the aligners, increasing the risk of decay or staining.

No food restrictions

Unlike fixed braces, you won’t need to avoid anything crunchy, chewy or sticky. Apples, popcorn, toffee, crusty bread are still on the menu.

Because you remove your aligners to eat, there’s nothing to damage and nowhere for food to get caught. It’s one of the reasons clear aligners are such a popular choice with patients of all ages.

What about snacking

Clear aligners need to be worn for 20–22 hours a day for treatment to work properly, so you do need to be a bit more mindful about when you’re eating and drinking.

Every time you take your aligners out for a snack, you’ll need to brush your teeth before putting them back in – otherwise you’re trapping food and bacteria against your teeth.

Most people naturally settle into a routine around main meals, but if you do like to snack throughout the day, just factor in a few minutes to clean your teeth afterwards.

With any orthodontic treatment, we generally recommend saving sugary or acidic foods and drinks for mealtimes rather than grazing throughout the day. It’s better for your teeth overall, and it makes life easier when you’re wearing aligners.

Keeping your aligners stain-free

You can still have your morning coffee or afternoon tea – you’ll just need to remove your aligners first.

If you leave your aligners in while drinking anything other than water, they can stain. Coffee and tea are the main culprits, but red wine, fizzy drinks and even some fruit juices can discolour the plastic over time.

Stained aligners are more noticeable, which isn’t ideal when you’ve chosen a discreet option. And while you do switch to a new set of aligners every week or two, it’s worth keeping each set as clear as possible so they stay virtually invisible.

Drinking water with aligners in

Plain, still water is fine to drink with your aligners in. Staying hydrated throughout the day is important.

Sparkling water is a bit different. It’s generally recommended to remove your aligners before drinking it. While plain sparkling water won’t stain or warp the plastic, its carbonic acid can cause enamel erosion when trapped against your teeth.

Keeping your aligners clean

When you take your aligners out for meals, it’s a good opportunity to give them a quick rinse. Most people clean their aligners with a soft toothbrush and some cool water – no need for toothpaste, as it can be abrasive and make the plastic cloudy.

There are also cleaning tablets designed specifically for aligners if you want to give them a deeper clean every now and then. We’ll talk you through the best routine for looking after your aligners when you start treatment.

Flexibility that fits your life

You do need to be a bit more mindful about when you’re eating and drinking. But the trade-off is that you’re not restricted in what you can eat – and you can take your aligners out for special occasions, photos or important meetings if you need to.

It’s a level of flexibility that fixed braces just can’t offer, and for a lot of people, that makes clear aligners an appealing option.

Getting into a routine

Once you’ve been wearing aligners for a week or two, it becomes second nature. You’ll get into a rhythm with meals, find a routine that works for you and stop thinking about it quite so much.

And if you ever have questions – about eating, drinking or anything else aligner-related – we’re always here to help.

Find out if clear aligners are right for you

If you’re considering clear aligners and want to know more about how they’d fit into your lifestyle, a free consultation is the perfect place to start. You’ll meet one of our experienced specialist orthodontists, Dr Faiza Lewis or Dr Richard Williams, who’ll talk you through your options and answer any questions you have.

You’ll leave feeling clear about what treatment would involve and confident about the next step, whatever you decide.

Book your free consultation online or call our friendly team on 020 8394 2324.