Eating and drinking with clear aligners

One of the main reasons people choose clear aligners over fixed braces is that there is no long list of banned foods. Eating with aligners is mostly about one habit: take them out before you eat, and put them back once your teeth are clean. This guide explains why, what you can drink with them in, and how to manage real life in Pakistan, from chai breaks at work to long wedding dinners.

The basic rule for eating with aligners

Take your aligners out for every meal and snack. Chewing with aligners in can crack or distort them, and food gets trapped between the plastic and your teeth. That trapped food sits against your teeth for hours, which raises the risk of decay and gum irritation.

Because the aligners come out, you can generally eat what you normally eat. Hard and sticky foods that are a problem with braces, such as nuts, toffee or corn on the cob, do not damage aligners because they are not in your mouth while you eat.

What you can drink with aligners in

Plain, cool water is the only drink most dentists are happy for you to have with aligners in. Everything else is better taken with the aligners out:

Chai and coffee: hot drinks can warp the plastic, and sugar and milk get trapped against the teeth.
Soft drinks and juices: sugar and acid held against the teeth by the aligner can damage enamel.
Lassi and milkshakes: sugar and milk again.
Coloured drinks: tea, coffee and cola can stain over time, even though the outer shell of Alignova aligners is designed to resist staining.

If you have a drink with aligners in by mistake, rinse your mouth and the aligners with water as soon as you can.

Watching your wear time

Most dentists ask patients to wear aligners for about 20 to 22 hours a day. That leaves only two to four hours for everything else, including meals, snacks, drinks and brushing. The habit that most often slows treatment is not one long meal but lots of small breaks: a biscuit here, a cup of chai there, each with the aligners out on the desk.

A few habits help:

Eat at set times rather than snacking through the day.
Have your chai with a meal instead of separately.
Keep a mental note, or use the wear tracker in the Alignova patient app if your dentist uses it.

Cleaning up after eating

Ideally, brush your teeth before putting aligners back in. When that is not possible, for example at a restaurant, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and brush at the next chance. Rinse the aligners too. A small travel kit with a folding toothbrush, a little toothpaste and the aligner case makes this much easier. Our guide on how to care for your clear aligners has more detail.

Eating out, dawats and weddings

Pakistani social life often revolves around long meals. A wedding can mean hours of starters, a late dinner and dessert. A few practical tips:

Take aligners out once, not many times. Wait until the main meal, eat properly, then clean up and put them back, rather than snacking on and off all evening.
Always use the case. Aligners wrapped in a napkin end up in the bin. This is the most common way aligners get lost.
Carry a kit. Case, travel brush and water in your bag or pocket.
Do not be shy. Excusing yourself for a minute to rinse and put aligners back is perfectly normal.

Foods to take care with

While aligners are out you can eat normally, but a few things are worth knowing:

Strongly coloured foods such as haldi-heavy curries and paan can stain teeth and attachments. Brush well before aligners go back.
Sugary foods such as mithai and sweet drinks are more harmful when sugar is then sealed in under an aligner. Clean your teeth afterwards.
Very hard foods can occasionally loosen an attachment. If one comes off, let your dentist know.

Sore teeth and eating

For the first day or two of a new aligner, teeth may feel tender. Softer foods such as daal, rice, eggs and yoghurt can make meals more comfortable during that time. See do clear aligners hurt? for more on what to expect.

Chewing gum and smoking

Do not chew gum with aligners in: it sticks to the plastic. Smoking with aligners in can stain them and is bad for your gums, and the habit is worth discussing with your dentist.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink chai with aligners in?

It is better not to. Hot drinks can warp the plastic, and milk and sugar get trapped against your teeth. Take the aligners out, have your chai, rinse, then put them back.

Can I eat with aligners in if I am in a hurry?

No. Chewing can crack or distort the aligner and traps food against your teeth. Even a quick snack should be eaten with the aligners out.

Do I have to brush after every meal?

Brushing before putting aligners back is ideal. If you cannot, rinse your mouth and the aligners well with water and brush as soon as you can.

Is there any food I cannot eat with aligners?

Because aligners come out for meals, there are few restrictions. Take care with very hard foods if you have attachments, and clean well after sugary or strongly coloured foods.

Clear aligners are a prescription treatment. Whether they suit you is decided by a licensed dentist or orthodontist after an examination.

Take the free smile check and a partner dentist will contact you about an assessment.