Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with countless millions of people relying on it to help them get started each morning. Are you among them? If so, you might have questions about how orthodontic treatment will affect your habit. You may be wondering, “Can I drink coffee with Invisalign?” The answer is yes! Let’s talk about how you can enjoy your daily cup of joe without interfering with your treatment.
Remove Your Aligners Before Drinking Coffee
Invisalign aligners are easy to remove; you should always take them out of your mouth before you start sipping on coffee. There are a few reasons for this:
- Your oral health. Coffee, as well as any cream and sugar you put in it, might sneak into your aligners and get trapped against your teeth. This could eventually lead to cavities and other problems.
- Coffee’s dark color has the potential to stain your aligners. It could cause your treatment to lose its subtle appearance.
- Coffee is usually enjoyed hot — its high temperature could warp your aligners, causing them to lose their effectiveness.
Don’t Linger with Your Coffee
Some people like to prepare a large thermos of coffee in the morning and sip on it throughout the day. If that is something you do, you may need to adjust your habit. Each time you sip your coffee, you’ll have to remove your aligners, which could make it difficult for you to meet the required 20 – 22 hour wear time each day. Try to enjoy your coffee within 15 – 30 minutes or so, preferably with a meal. This will minimize the amount of time that Invisalign is out of your mouth.
Be Mindful of Oral Hygiene
It is important to clean your teeth and your aligners before putting them back in your mouth after you finish a cup of coffee. This decreases the risk that Invisalign will trap cream, sugar, and acidic coffee against your teeth. You’ll therefore enjoy fresher breath and a lower chance of oral health problems.
Cut Back on Sugar
It’s fine to indulge in a sugary latte once in a while, but on most days, your coffee should be pretty simple. It is best to enjoy it black or with just a bit of plain cream. Adding a lot of sugar — or heavily flavored creamer — to your coffee increases its cavity-causing potential. That is true with or without Invisalign, but because your aligners could trap sugar against your teeth, extra caution is in order.
You might have to adjust your daily coffee ritual when you are using Invisalign, but you won’t have to give it up altogether. With a few simple precautions, you can enjoy your java without endangering your smile or your treatment.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Erin Page the dental expert at Capital Smiles in Schenectady. We are proud to provide Invisalign and a range of other advanced services. If you have questions about what to expect while you are straightening your teeth, we would be happy to speak with you. Contact our office at 518-374-0317.