Is It Okay To Drink Coffee While Wearing My Invisalign Trays? No, And Here’s Why!

Invisalign is a comfortable, invisible, and convenient way to whiten your teeth and restore your smile. However, it does require you to make some lifestyle changes. If you’re a coffee drinker, for example, you should avoid drinking coffee while wearing your Invisalign trays.

Why? Read on, and find out why it’s a bad idea to drink coffee with your trays in. The team at Kingstowne Dental Specialists will also provide a few tips for coffee lovers who are getting Invisalign treatment.

Why Can’t I Drink Coffee While Wearing My Invisalign Trays?

When wearing Invisalign, the only beverage you should drink is clear tap or bottled water. You should not drink coffee or any other beverage while wearing your trays. This includes tea, energy drinks, soda, sports drinks, juice, and alcoholic drinks.

Why? Here are just a few issues that can happen when you drink coffee while wearing Invisalign. 

• Stained teeth and trays – The pigments and coloring of coffee and other drinks can end up staining your Invisalign trays over time, making them visible on your teeth. That’s not what you want. In addition, since a small amount of liquid will sit between your teeth and trays, your teeth will be more prone to staining, too.
• Higher risk of cavities – Coffee is already acidic, and if you drink coffee with cream and sugar, the acid and sugars can combine to contribute to a higher risk of tooth decay. Again, the sugar and acid will sit between your trays and teeth, feeding bacteria and potentially causing cavities.
• Hot drinks can cause warping – Hot drinks are particularly bad for Invisalign. The trays are made of “thermoplastic” that softens when exposed to heat. If you regularly drink very hot coffee, this could cause the trays to warp. 
  

Do I Have To Quit Drinking Coffee While Wearing Invisalign? No! 

If you’re a big coffee lover and you’re concerned that you may have to quit drinking coffee while wearing Invisalign, don’t worry. You can still enjoy your morning cup of joe. You’ll just need to make a few adjustments to your habits!

First, make sure you remove your trays and store them safely before enjoying your coffee. This will help prevent them from being damaged while they’re outside of your mouth.

You should also drink your coffee within 30 minutes to minimize the amount of time that you’re not wearing your trays. Avoid sipping on your coffee for a long time. Remember, your trays should be worn for 22+ hours per day for the best results! 

Also, before you put your trays back in, brush your teeth and clean your trays, when possible, or at least rinse your mouth and your trays. This will help prevent stains and cavities.

Interested In Invisalign? Contact Kingstowne Dental Specialists Today! 

Dr. Bob is an experienced orthodontist in Alexandria, and provides Invisalign treatment for patients of all ages. If you’d like a straighter smile, our team is here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at (703) 493-0622 to schedule a consultation right away.