How to Care for Your Teeth While Wearing Invisalign

The Sweet Side of Invisalign: Can You Still Eat Ice Cream?

Apr 01, 2023

Invisalign uses clear, removable aligners to straighten teeth. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, making them a popular choice for adults who want to improve their smile without drawing attention to their teeth.

Pros and Cons of Invisalign

Pros:

  • You can still eat ice cream. You have to be careful with sticky toppings.
  • They’re clear, so they’re practically invisible.
  • You can remove them when eating
  • They don’t use metal wires or brackets, which some people are allergic to
  • They tend to be more comfortable than traditional braces.

Cons:

  • They can be more expensive than traditional braces.
  • They require you to wear them for at least 22 hours a day.
  • You have to brush after every meal and floss twice a day.

How is the Invisalign Procedure Done?

Invisalign is a revolutionary orthodontic treatment that can help you achieve the perfect smile without traditional metal braces. Getting Invisalign in Highland Village begins with a consultation with an orthodontist to determine if it is right for you.

During this consultation, your orthodontist will take digital scans of your teeth and create a customized treatment plan with a series of clear aligners. The aligners are worn for two weeks, gradually moving your teeth to their desired position. After every two weeks, you will receive a new set of aligners until your treatment is complete. With Invisalign, you can get the smile you want without worrying about uncomfortable metal wires or brackets.

How to Care for Your Teeth While Wearing Invisalign

Taking care of your teeth while wearing Invisalign is an important process. It’s not enough to just put on the aligners and forget about them; you must ensure that you take proper care of your teeth and gums while wearing them. This means brushing, flossing, and rinsing regularly, as well as ensuring that you’re eating a balanced diet to help keep your teeth healthy. Visiting a dentist’s office near you is also important for proper cleaning and assessment.

Can I Eat Ice Cream With Invisalign?

Eating anything, including soft foods like ice cream, can affect your aligners. That’s because when you chew food or drink very cold liquids, your teeth exert a strong force on the material in your mouth. You risk cracking or damaging your aligners if you leave them in during these activities. Ice cream can leak into trays and damage the appliance. Sugary ice cream left on teeth can cause tooth decay.

If you desire to eat ice cream, it is advisable to remove the aligners before eating. Rinse your mouth after eating. As with traditional braces, it’s important to rinse your mouth after eating ice cream to remove any sticky residue from your teeth and gums. This will help keep your aligners clean and prevent tooth decay.

Foods to Avoid with Invisalign

If you’re in the process of straightening your teeth with Invisalign, you may be wondering what kinds of foods you need to avoid. While you can still eat many of your favorite foods, there are a few that you should avoid to prevent damage to your aligners or teeth.

  • Hard and sticky candy. Hard candy can crack or break your aligners, and gum can get stuck.
  • Chewing ice. Chewing ice can damage your teeth, and it can also crack or break your aligners.
  • Chips and pretzels: Chips and pretzels can break or get stuck in your aligners.

What Happens If You Eat With Invisalign Aligners In?

If you eat with Invisalign, bits of food can get stuck between the aligners and your teeth. This can cause bad breath and an unpleasant taste in your mouth. If you don’t clean your aligners properly, the food can also start to rot and cause an infection.

Schedule an Appointment

Whether you opt for hard or soft serve ice cream, take extra precautions when eating with Invisalign to avoid damaging them. Visit Campbell & Williams Family Dental for more information about Invisalign and how to care for them.

Click to listen highlighted text!