One of the most common questions we get from people considering Invisalign is can I still chew gum while I’m in it? It may seem like a small thing but for those who chew gum often it’s a big deal to their lifestyle. The short answer is no, you shouldn’t eat gum while wearing your aligners. But let us explain why and what you can do instead.
If you chew gum while wearing your aligners you’ll run into a lot of problems. Gum is sticky and it will get stuck between your teeth and the aligners making a mess that’s hard to clean. The gum will attach to the plastic and be almost impossible to get off. Even if you clean most of it off the leftover stuff will hold bacteria and change how your aligners fit. This residue can also make the clear plastic cloudy which makes your aligners stand out more and takes away one of the main reasons to choose Invisalign over traditional braces.
Chewing gum while wearing aligners will also hurt them besides making a mess. The plastic can bend or break from the constant biting and the sticky texture. Your aligners need to fit perfectly in order to move your teeth properly. If they are damaged they won’t work as well. You may need to get a new aligner if you break one badly enough. This will slow down your treatment and cost you more money. At Marrecau Orthodontics we tell our patients one of the best things about Invisalign is you can take them off. With traditional braces gum would attach to the brackets and wires but with aligners you can just take them off before you chew gum. You don’t have to stop chewing gum completely while you’re in treatment. You just have to decide when to chew it.
The most important thing is the schedule for when you should wear your aligners. For treatment to go as planned you need to wear them for at least 20 to 22 hours a day. When your aligners are out you only have 2 to 4 hours to eat, drink and do other things. You can only eat gum during this short time. Many patients like to chew gum shortly after meals when their aligners are already out for eating. This way they can chew gum and freshen their breath without having to take off their aligners for a longer time.
This takes some getting used to for Parkland patients who chew gum a lot. Some people chew gum all day without even realizing it. If you want to get Invisalign treatment you need to break this habit or at least change it a lot. You might want to think of other options during treatment if you rely on chewing gum to help you focus, relax or get rid of bad breath.
Sugar free mints are a great alternative that doesn’t require you to take out your aligners. You can wear your aligners and let a mint dissolve in your mouth at the same time. Just make sure the mints are really sugar free, because sugar can get stuck between your teeth and aligners and cause cavities. Some patients also say that brushing their teeth and keeping their aligners clean throughout the day helps keep their breath fresh so they don’t need gum as much. Modern orthodontics offers different types of braces, including metal, ceramic, and clear options. Each type of braces provides a comfortable and precise way to align teeth while fitting the patient’s needs and goals.
If you do decide to eat gum while your aligners are out make sure to brush your teeth before putting them back in. This gets rid of any sugar or other stuff that might be stuck to the gum and get stuck to your teeth. During orthodontic treatment it’s very important to take care of your teeth to keep them healthy and cavity free. Some patients ask if they should get traditional braces instead of the gum limitation. The truth is gum is way worse with metal braces because it attaches to the brackets and wires and is very hard to get off. While you can’t chew gum as much as you could before treatment with Invisalign you can at least take out your aligners and chew gum sometimes.
The gum ban is only for a short time. You can chew gum whenever you want during the day after treatment is over and you only wear retainers at night. For most patients this small sacrifice is worth it for a straighter, healthier smile.