Billions of people around the world enjoy waking up to a warm cup of coffee. However, if you’re undergoing Invisalign for a straighter smile, combining these two might not be the best thing for your process. Still, there may be some workarounds that can allow you to drink one of your favorite beverages while making great progress with your orthodontic treatment. Read on to learn four important tips for enjoying coffee during your Invisalign process.
Remove Your Clear Aligners Beforehand
One of the most important things to do is to always remove your clear aligners before eating or drinking anything—except for pure water. This is because your Invisalign trays can end up being affected and interfering with your discreet orthodontic method. For instance, hot temperatures can warp your aligners and make them lose their fit. Coffee can also stain your trays, and leaving them on while drinking your beverage can allow sugar and cream to get trapped against your teeth, increasing the risk of bacteria and decay.
Drink Your Coffee During Meals
To make great progress with Invisalign, you’ll have to wear your aligners for about 20-22 hours every day. This leaves little room to have them off throughout the day. Instead of sipping coffee slowly, you should enjoy it along with your breakfast so that you can reduce how often you remove your clear trays.
Minimize Sugar & Cream
Drinking sweet coffee now and then isn’t harmful by itself, but a major concern is your smile’s exposure to sugar and cream. These ingredients can gradually introduce bacteria around your teeth, leaving you vulnerable to cavities and decay during your Invisalign treatment. That’s why it’s best to save mochas, lattes, and other blended coffees for special occasions. You might also try black coffee with a bit of unsweetened cream or a pinch of sugar substitute.
Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene
During your Invisalign treatment, it’s crucial to maintain great teeth cleaning habits so that your smile stays healthy throughout the process. After drinking your cup of coffee, make sure to rinse your mouth with clean water and brush your teeth as well as your aligners before wearing them again. This will help keep bacteria at bay while minimizing the chance of staining your trays and smile.
Even if you’re straightening your smile with Invisalign, it doesn’t mean you have to forego your favorite beverages! Just be sure to keep the above tips in mind so that you can preserve your pearly whites along the way.
About the Practice
At Premier Dental Care, our team offers Invisalign clear aligners to help those who want to achieve a straighter smile. We can provide guidelines on how to care for your trays as well as ways to maintain your progress while also enjoying your favorite meals and drinks, such as coffee. Feel free to reach out to our team by clicking here or giving us a call at 703-860-8860.