Many people have already discovered the ease and effectiveness of Invisalign teeth straightening treatment. While this is an easy and cost-effective way to achieve a beautiful smile, you are going to need to watch what you eat and drink so that you do not negate the process, according to an orthodontist in Washington DC. Here are the major foods and drinks that you should avoid while you are using this type of teeth straightening treatment.
Food and Drinks That Increase Plaque Buildup
It is more important than ever to practice good dental hygiene when you are undergoing this type of dental treatment. You need to be particularly careful to avoid foods and drinks that increase plaque buildup. For example, alcohol often leaves behind trace sugars between your teeth and the retainer. These sugars can then lead to dangerous plaque buildup that can develop into tartar and cavities if you are not careful.
In addition to alcohol, you should also be careful with sugary foods such as ice cream and soda. Even too much juice can trigger plaque buildup. If you do indulge in a sugary beverage or food, it is important to brush your teeth thoroughly. Remember that sugar has a cumulative effect, making it a good idea to choose these indulgences judiciously. If you are wondering about what types of food you can and cannot eat if avoiding plaque buildup is your goal, the Invisalign experts at Hillsboro Excellence can help to guide your decisions.
Drinks That Stain Teeth
There are also a number of drinks that can increase the normal staining risks of your teeth when using this treatment. Any beverage that would normally stain your teeth will stain your aligners to an even greater degree. The biggest risks for teeth staining are coffee, black tea, col, and red wine. Even a light-colored wine can stain the teeth.
It is a good idea to avoid these beverages as much as possible. It should go without saying that chewing tobacco is also a prime offender of staining of the teeth and aligners. Not only can tobacco stain the teeth, but it can also get caught in the tray of the aligners, causing problems such as gum disease or tooth decay.
It is also important to avoid hot beverages. Drinking a beverage that is too hot could potentially warm the plastic of the aligners and cause it to distort. While moderately warm beverages are acceptable, take care when drinking something that is too hot. When in doubt, plain water is always the best choice for beverages when you are using this type of dental treatment. As a bonus, water is also the best drink choice from a health perspective.
Foods That Impact Fit
In addition to concerning yourself with the potential of staining and plaque buildup, you need to take care to avoid foods that can negate the orthodontic function of the aligners. You do not want to have to repeat the treatment course because the aligners were not working as intended because you ate too many foods that impacted the fit.
Sticky and chewy foods are a big no-no when you are undergoing any type of teeth straightening treatment. This includes taffy candy or chewing gum. This type of food can stick between your teeth and the aligners so much that the treatment does not work. The slightest shift in the position of your aligners can set you back in your teeth straightening journey.
Stringy foods such as meat can become stuck in between the teeth and the aligners, hindering the perfect fit. While it can be impossible to avoid these types of foods, you can mitigate the damage by taking care to floss after you consume meats and other stringy foods.
Lastly, crunching down on hard foods can damage both your teeth and your aligners. While the aligner may not break completely, a slight crack can alter the pressure needed to straighten the teeth. For example, chewing on ice cubes or hard candy can cause great damage to the aligners, necessitating replacements.
An Invisalign treatment provides a great alternative to traditional braces. Not only are the aligners more aesthetically pleasing, but they also require less care as long as you are careful about what you eat and drink. You can now have the smile that you have always dreamed about. For more information on the food and drinks that you should avoid while wearing Invisalign, check out dentist near me lumberton.
