Enjoying Your Coffee and Tea While Wearing Invisalign
The simple answer is yes, you can still enjoy your favorite warm beverages while straightening your teeth with Invisalign. However, there are some important things to know that will help protect your investment and keep your treatment on track. For expert advice, Dr. Laurie McNamara McClatchey at McNamara Orthodontics shares key tips in this blog post.
Coffee, Tea & Your Invisalign Aligners: What You Need to Know
For many of us, that first sip of coffee or tea is a daily highlight. The smell, the warmth, the boost of energy—it’s all part of what makes these drinks so special.
When you’re wearing Invisalign aligners, you can continue enjoying these pleasures, but with a small adjustment to your routine. There are two main concerns with drinking hot beverages while wearing your aligners:
First, heat can change the shape of your plastic aligners. When exposed to hot temperatures, the carefully designed shape might warp, which means they won’t move your teeth correctly.
Second, dark-colored drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, and cola can leave behind stains on your clear aligners. This can make your “invisible” braces suddenly very visible—showing up as yellowish or brownish tints that defeat the whole purpose of choosing clear aligners in the first place!
Smart Ways to Enjoy Your Drinks During Treatment
Here’s how to keep enjoying your favorite beverages while protecting your Invisalign treatment:
Always remove your aligners before drinking anything other than plain, cool water. This is the golden rule that solves most problems before they start.
After finishing your coffee or tea, swish some water around in your mouth. This simple step washes away dark pigments and reduces the chance of staining your teeth when you put your aligners back in.
Take a few minutes to brush your teeth and clean between them with floss before returning your aligners to your mouth. This keeps everything fresh and prevents stains from developing.
In situations where brushing isn’t possible, at least rinse thoroughly with water before replacing your aligners.
Let your mouth cool down after hot drinks before putting your aligners back in. Even after removing them for your beverage, the residual heat in your mouth could potentially affect their shape.
The Importance of Wearing Time
For successful treatment, you should wear your Invisalign aligners for 20-22 hours every single day. This leaves just 2-4 hours total for all eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing combined.
Consistency is the key to getting results on schedule. The more diligently you wear your aligners, the faster and more predictable your tooth movement will be. Every hour counts!
Why McNamara Orthodontics Is Your Best Choice for Invisalign
At McNamara Orthodontics in Ann Arbor, MI, we believe that teeth straightening should fit into your life—not the other way around. Our team understands the little pleasures that make each day better, like enjoying your favorite drinks.
Don’t put off getting the straight, beautiful smile you’ve always wanted because you’re worried about giving up coffee or tea! Visit us to discover how Invisalign can seamlessly integrate with your daily life.
Your journey to a confident smile starts here—and yes, your favorite mug can come along for the ride!
