Are you among the billions of people worldwide who like to wake up each day with a hot cup of coffee? Whether you like to enjoy it at home or at a trendy café, coffee may be a treasured part of your routine. It makes sense, then, that you might wonder if Invisalign will affect your ability to enjoy your daily cup of Joe. The good news is that you can continue to drink coffee throughout your treatment period—if you work with the right dentist. If you choose a typical Invisalign provider, you may need to make a few adjustments to your habits. This blog post contains some helpful information and advice to make treatment go smoothly.
You May Need to Remove Your Aligners First
With very few exceptions, dentists will tell you never to drink coffee while your aligners are in your mouth. Your beverage’s hot temperature might cause them to warp and lose their effectiveness. Coffee could also stain them. Additionally, if you like to have cream and sugar in your coffee, they could sneak underneath your aligners and get trapped against your teeth, where they could increase your risk of decay.
However, select dentists participate in the “Invisalign Experience,” which speeds up the process and ends up costing significantly less than traditional treatment. With this unique plan, you don’t have to remove your aligners to enjoy your coffee or any other beverage or food for that matter.
Enjoy Coffee with One of Your Meals
If you like to put your coffee in a thermos and sip on it slowly throughout the day, you may want to consider changing your habit. It may be best to finish your coffee during breakfast before you move on with your day to reduce the number of times your aligners are exposed to food and beverages, even if your Invisalign Experience aligners can handle it.
Be Mindful of Oral Hygiene
The last thing you want is for your teeth to become decayed and weak during Invisalign treatment, so oral hygiene is of utmost importance. The only time you should remove your Invisalign Experience aligners, brush and floss your teeth daily, and you should also thoroughly rinse and gently brush your aligners. For the rest of the day, they should remain in your mouth.
Cut Back on Cream and Sugar
There is nothing wrong with occasionally enjoying a sweet coffee. However, due to the oral health risks presented by sugar, it is best to reserve sweet lattes, mochas, and blended coffee drinks only for special occasions. Indulging in them every day will increase the chances that a cavity will develop during your Invisalign treatment. If you cannot tolerate black coffee, try adding a bit of unsweetened cream or a dash of a sugar substitute.
Invisalign will not prevent you from drinking coffee! As long as you work with the right dentist who uses the Invisalign Experience, you can continue to enjoy your daily java throughout your treatment period.
Meet the Practice
At Elmbrook Family Dental of Wauwatosa, our talented team is proud to provide Invisalign to members of our community. Our average case takes only 6 months because we take advantage of the Invisalign Experience! Wearing the aligners 24 hours a day, except for oral hygiene care, you can achieve the straight smile you’ve dreamed of. If you are curious about this treatment and how it might affect your daily routine, we would be pleased to speak with you. Get in touch with our office at 414-775-2535.