Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with countless people relying on it to ease them into their day each morning. If you are a coffee drinker with a degree of dental misalignment, you may wonder, “Can I drink coffee with Invisalign in Hamden?” The answer is yes! This blog post discusses how you can enjoy your daily java without endangering your orthodontic treatment.
Remove Your Aligners
It is important that you remove your aligners before you drink your coffee for three big reasons:
- The dark color of coffee may stain Invisalign, causing it to lose its subtle, clear appearance.
- Your coffee, along with any cream or sugar that is in it, might sneak into your aligners and end up resting against your teeth for hours on end. That increases your risk of dental problems.
- Hot beverages may warp your aligners, causing them to lose both their shape and their ability to move your teeth effectively.
Do Not Linger with Your Coffee
If you are the type of person who loves to pour their coffee into a thermos and sip on it periodically throughout the day, it would be best if you adjust your habits. Frequently removing your aligners to take in a bit of coffee could cut into your total wear time, perhaps making you fall short of the ideal 20 – 22 hours that you should keep them in your mouth each day. Try to enjoy your coffee at the same time that you take your morning meal, and do your best to finish consuming it within 15 – 30 minutes.
Brush and Rinse after You Finish
Once you finish enjoying your coffee, do not replace your aligners in your mouth right away. Rather, gently brush and floss your teeth. You should also thoroughly rinse your mouth and your aligners. This will prevent acid from the coffee, as well as any sugar that was in it, from lingering on your teeth or getting trapped in your Invisalign trays.
Cut Back on Sugar
Do you enjoy a hefty serving of cream and sugar in your coffee? Or perhaps you love to head to the local espresso shop to pick up a sweet latte or mocha. Sugary coffee beverages are certainly delicious, but they pose a danger to your teeth, particularly if your Invisalign trays trap the sugar and give it an extended opportunity to contribute to plaque and decay. You might try swapping out sugar for an artificial substitute or simply taking your coffee a little less sweet.
Invisalign in Hamden may cause you to change the way you drink coffee, but you will not have to abstain from it altogether. The above tips can allow you to enjoy your favorite caffeinated beverage without harming your teeth or compromising your treatment.
Meet the Practice
New Haven Dental Group in Hamden features an expansive team of general dentists and specialists, all of whom are eager to serve patients in our community. Invisalign is one of the many services we offer. If you have questions about it, our team would be happy to speak with you. Contact us at 203-587-7327.