smile blog

If you have had braces in the past or know someone who has, then you’ll also know there’s a seemingly endless list of foods you can’t eat or drink. Anything sticky, sugary, gummy or hard is on the “don’t eat” list. Everything from chewing gum to carrot sticks may be a no-go with braces. If you want to straighten your teeth but are worried about how this process with impact your day-to-day diet, you may benefit from choosing removable aligners. Removable aligners, like Invisalign, are an alternative to braces that can be taken out in advance of your meals. With Invisalign, you won’t need to worry about what you can or cannot eat– everything is still an option!These are a few foods you can’t eat with braces but can still eat with Invisalign:

1. Foods you bite into with your front teeth. Biting into an apple or corn on the cob is a big no-go with braces. That’s because biting into foods with your front teeth could cause your front brackets and wires to loosen or even pop off. If you have Invisalign, you can still enjoy these foods– simply remove your aligners and then bit into that juicy apple!
2. Foods that are hard, like nuts or hard candies. Just like biting into an apple, eating nuts or hard candies can also cause a bracket to pop off. You should also avoid chewing on ice. You may also be surprised to learn that some foods, like crusty French bread, can also cause problems with braces. If you have braces, you’ll need to cut up these foods rather than biting into them: croutons, raw vegetables, crusty breads, thin crust pizza, meat, and burgers.
3. Foods that are chewy. Chewy, sticky foods like licorice, bubble gum, gummy bears and caramel may be fun treats, but if you have braces these foods could end up stuck all over your metal brackets and wires. That can be a very sticky and messy situation! With Invisalign, simply remove the aligners and then enjoy your favourite chewy or sticky foods for no-fuss eating and drinking.

Not only can you still enjoy all your favourite foods with Invisalign, but you also do not need to worry about complicated oral hygiene. Even if you follow a careful list of approved foods, it is still possible that some of these foods may get stuck between your brackets, wires and teeth. You’ll need to be sure to brush and floss after every meal, and you may also need to use special floss picks to remove any food debris from between your teeth. Failing to do so could increase your risk for cavities or even cause your teeth to be stained. That means when your brackets are removed, part of your teeth may be discoloured.With Invisalign, there’s no need to worry about following a special diet or complicated oral hygiene procedures. Invisalign aligners can be quickly and discreetly removed before eating and drinking. Simply brush your teeth following the meal and then pop the aligners right back in. You can bite into a juicy corn cob, enjoy a sticky toffee treat, or eat whatever your heart desires. Simply remove your aligners before a meal for no-fuss eating and drinking. Everything is still on the menu!For more information on the benefits of choosing Invisalign as an alternative to braces, contact your Docbraces orthodontist today.