Rumor has it that you can eat and drink whatever you want when you are an Invisalign patient. This is true – within reason. Of course, your trays must always come out before you have a meal or snack. This is a hard and fast rule no matter what time of year it is. At Halloween, however, there is a natural temptation to break the rules. Your orthodontist would advise against it, so here’s what you need to know to keep your teeth and trays safe and still have fun on October 31.
1. Lollipops
How bad can a lollipop be, right? You just suck on for ages and eventually it’s done. No big deal, right? Not if you have your Invisalign trays in. All that sugar is disintegrating all over your teeth and trays, getting in between them even though they fit snugly, resting up next to your tooth enamel. You will end up with teeth bathed in sugar as well as sticky and potentially stained Invisalign. Just say no to lollipops. They might seem innocuous but they’re as bad as any other candy, which brings us to…
2. Hard Candy
Just like lollipops, hard candy seems like it can’t cause that big of a problem for Invisalign wearers. You’re just enjoying the flavor of a piece of candy after all. But what about when you get tired of the candy? Will you be tempted to bite down and finish it? That’s not a good idea for your teeth and trays, which could be cracked with one wrong bite. Plus, all the sugar bath problems mentioned above hold true for hard candy too.
3. Candy Apples
Candy apples are tricksters, masquerading as something that’s semi-healthy, but to get to the fruit you must bite through a crazy amount of hard candy coating. If your trays are out, you could give this one a whirl, but choose carefully. People who wear Invisalign have teeth that are shifting all the time. Teeth can sometimes even feel a little loose and uncomfortable. Biting into a candy apple could feel like you’re losing a tooth.
4. Gum
You do not get a free pass for gum chewing, not even on Halloween. Whether you wear Invisalign or conventional braces, chewing gum is always off-limits. It is entirely likely that gum will stick to your aligners and damage them. If that doesn’t cause a problem, the constant chewing motion can lead to cracks or damage to your trays. You don’t want to find yourself at the orthodontist on November 1 requesting replacement trays or discovering that your treatment is off-track because of one gum-laced indulgence.
5. Soda, Coffee, Wine, Hot Chocolate
Any drink besides water is a no-no when your trays are in place. Any dark-colored liquid can easily stain your aligners, attachments, and teeth. Sugary drinks can feed the bacteria in your mouth and lead to tooth decay (even under the aligners). Sipping on a hot drink could distort the shape of your aligner so no hot toddy or cider either. Stick to water when the trays are in place.
When In Doubt, Ask Your Orthodontist
Remember, just because you can eat or drink whatever you want with your trays out, that doesn’t mean you should. If you have questions about making Invisalign work on Halloween, schedule a consultation or call Soleil Orthodontics in Woodinville, WA, to learn more.