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What Food Can You Eat with Invisalign?

Getting a perfect smile with Invisalign is an exciting decision, but it often comes with questions about what food can you eat with Invisalign. 

One of the significant benefits of Invisalign is that it allows for more flexibility compared to traditional braces, especially when it comes to food choices. 
Surprised patient holding clear Invisalign aligners

Should I Change My Diet When Wearing Invisalign?

No, you should not change your diet when wearing Invisalign. Invisalign’s removable design provides a level of flexibility and convenience that traditional braces can’t offer. 
It allows patients to easily take out their aligners and enjoy their favorite foods without worrying about damaging the aligners or additional cleaning.
 
Though it’s important to follow your dentist’s guidelines, such as avoiding
hard-to-eat foods like apples, crunchy snacks, popcorn kernels, nuts, and candy, a drastic diet change isn’t usually necessary with Invisalign—unless excessive sugar consumption poses a risk to your dental health. 
It’s always best to consult with your dentist about any potential changes to your eating habits to ensure they’re appropriate for your situation.

Can you Eat with Invisalign during the First Week of Treatment?

Of course you can eat! But keep in mind that the first week with your Invisalign aligners is really important as your teeth and gums begin to adjust to the new alignment and pressure. 

During this time, it’s important to minimize discomfort by opting for soft foods and avoiding hard or chewy items as they might cause your teeth to move too much.

Here’s a list of foods that are ideal for the first week:

  • Applesauce
  • Chicken
  • Cooked vegetables such as carrots and squash
  • Fish
  • Ice cream
  • Milkshakes
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Oatmeal
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Smoothies
  • Soft fruits
  • Soup
  • Tofu
  • Yogurt

After the first week, you can gradually start eating more substantial foods. However, it’s still best to avoid hard, chewy, or sticky foods that could damage your aligners or become lodged in your teeth.

Some suitable options for the following weeks include:

  • Baked or mashed potatoes
  • Grilled chicken or fish
  • Pasta with light-colored sauce
  • Pudding
  • Rice

You can also enjoy most raw fruits and vegetables, provided they are cut into small pieces. However, avoid hard fruits and vegetables like raw carrots and apples.

Can Eating Damage My Invisalign?

Eating can damage your Invisalign in many ways. The most problematic things that can happen during eating are:

  • Wear and tear: Regular eating with your aligners in place can wear them down, leading to a poor fit and reduced effectiveness over time.

  • Breakage of mechanical components: If your treatment involves mechanical components such as clasps or buttons, eating can damage or break these parts, compromising the treatment.

  • Plaque buildup: Eating with aligners prevents saliva from naturally washing away bacteria, allowing food particles to get trapped in the aligners and promoting plaque buildup.

  • Aligner damage: Food can become lodged in, around, or under your aligners, causing damage that can be challenging to repair. Especially if harder food like nuts get stuck in them as they can stretch the aligners.

If you want to avoid the mentioned issues, always remove your aligners before eating. This helps reduce the risk of bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. Also make sure and do your best to keep the aligners clean!

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