Warping And Discoloration: How Certain Beverages Can Affect Your Invisalign

Posted on: 6 July 2021

Your Invisalign aligners might feel a little odd when they're first fitted. This is completely normal, and you'll very quickly get used to the feeling of your new aligners. You may even forget you're wearing them; however, there are a few activities that will serve as a reminder of the fact that you're wearing transparent aligners. This can include doing something as seemingly innocent as enjoying your favorite beverage.

High Sugar Content

Your orthodontist may recommend that you only drink water when wearing your Invisalign. That being said, it's still possible to drink cold beverages while your aligners are in your mouth. Soda, juice, and other drinks with a high sugar content should be approached with caution. The oral bacteria in your mouth responds to this sugar, producing acid which attacks your dental enamel. Clear aligners can aggravate this process, as damaging compounds can be trapped beneath them, and this is difficult to rinse away. These beverages won't necessarily damage your Invisalign trays (although they can easily damage your teeth).

Warping

Hot beverages are another matter. As you become used to your Invisalign, you might not see the harm in drinking a cup of coffee or tea. Excessively hot drinks can in fact warp the thermoplastic of your trays. This can compromise their effectiveness, and in extreme cases, can even make it difficult to remove your trays. Hot drinks should be avoided while wearing Invisalign.

Tannins in Your Drinks

Certain beverages (both hot and cold) can affect the look of your aligners, even if no warping takes place. Coffee, tea, red wine, and a number of other beverages contain a high level of tannins. When it comes to foods and drinks, tannins are biomolecules with the ability to stain. These contribute to the discoloration of your teeth, and can easily stain your aligners. A stained aligner can still be perfectly functional; however, the obvious discoloration can be a little embarrassing. It still might be necessary to wear a stained aligner until it's time to switch it to one with a new configuration.

No matter how confident you might be with your clear aligners, remember that they can be damaged by certain beverages. You don't necessarily need to give these drinks up for the duration of your treatment, but they should only be consumed during the period each day when you're permitted to remove the trays. Be sure to thoroughly clean your teeth afterward.

For more information about Invisalign, contact your dentist.

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Providing Children With Dental Knowledge

When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.

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