A whole lot of people drink coffee every single day, so the idea of having to give it up or changing their coffee drinking habits while they get braces is something that a lot of people worry about a lot before they start. It might seem like a tiny little question, but trust me, it’s actually a pretty big deal when you’re thinking about committing to a treatment that lasts anywhere from a few months to over a year. We want to give you the straight up, honest answer to the question, can you drink coffee while wearing Invisalign in Parkland, that sets you up with realistic expectations from the get go. Invisalign aligners gently move teeth into alignment without metal braces. Each Invisalign tray is clear, comfortable, and custom-made, allowing patients to remove them easily for meals or brushing. This treatment offers a discreet and effective way to achieve a confident smile.
The short and sweet answer is that you should take out your Invisalign trays before you grab a cup of coffee. This is true whether you’re having a quick morning cup or taking a mid day break to get your caffeine fix. Coffee is hot, and the plastic that Invisalign trays are made of doesn’t exactly play well with heat. Even just a tiny bit of heat can cause the trays to bend a little, and that changes how they fit your teeth. A tray that doesn’t fit properly anymore can’t push your teeth into place like it needs to. That can make a real mess of things, not to mention be a real pain to deal with later on. On top of the temperature issue, coffee is also a bit of a stainer. If you drink coffee while wearing your aligners those pesky coffee pigments can quickly turn your aligners a nasty yellow or brown colour. And one of the things you love about Invisalign is that the trays are really pretty much invisible for other people to see. But if they do end up stained that sort of negates the whole point of having them. At Marrecau Orthodontics we always want our patients to feel good about wearing their aligners. The last thing we want to see is patients be self conscious about their teeth because of stains. Invisalign Teen gives younger patients a flexible and comfortable way to straighten their teeth. The aligners are nearly invisible, easy to wear, and perfect for active teens. Invisalign Teen also includes wear indicators that help track progress throughout treatment.
We also have to worry about sugar and all the other junk you can add to your coffee. When you wear trays, you tend to sip your coffee with lots of cream, sugar, flavoured syrups and all sorts of other things that can be bad for your teeth. We take that kind of thing very seriously when we talk to our patients about how to care for their aligners. The good news is that most patients get used to taking out their trays to drink their coffee pretty quickly. It becomes second nature after a while, take out your trays, have your coffee, clean your teeth or at least rinse them well, and then put your trays back in. The most important thing is to get your teeth clean before putting the aligners back in so you don’t have coffee residue sitting on your enamel for hours.
Just remember that every time you take off your trays that time counts towards the hours you don’t wear them each day. Invisalign works best when you keep your trays on for at least 20 to 22 hours a day. If you take your trays off for more than one coffee break a day or load up on snacks, those minutes will add up in no time. Sticking to the plan will help you hit your treatment milestones.
We treat patients right here in Parkland at Marrecau Orthodontics and we think that getting people ready for what treatment will be like every day is key to getting the best results and having a smoother experience overall. Is it okay to drink coffee in Parkland while wearing Invisalign? Absolutely, but you have to take care of your teeth and take out your trays first. Get in touch with our staff now if you have any other questions about Invisalign or are ready to get on the path to a straighter smile. We are always happy to help.