You do not eat with clear aligners in; the aligners are taken out before every meal, and after eating the teeth are cleaned and the aligners are put back in. Only water can be drunk with the aligners in. For coffee, tea, hot drinks, fruit juice, and carbonated and sugary drinks, too, the aligners need to come out. The aligners should stay in the mouth 20–22 hours a day; the remaining 2–4 hours are set aside for eating, drinking and cleaning the teeth. On this page you will find how to set up a daily eating and drinking routine, the effect of tea, coffee and smoking on the aligners, and practical solutions when you are out. This is a general informational guide; the decision for you is made after an examination.
Can you eat with clear aligners in?
No. Eating with the aligners in the mouth puts both the aligners and the teeth at risk. Chewing force can crack, distort or dislodge the thin plastic material. If food particles get trapped between the aligner and the tooth, this residue stays in contact with the tooth surface for hours and increases the risk of cavities and gum problems.
So the mealtime routine is simple: take the aligners out, eat your meal, clean your teeth and put the aligners back in. Because the aligners are removed before eating, there is no need to ban hard or sticky foods as there is with treatment with fixed braces; being removable is one of the practical sides of clear aligners. For food restrictions with braces, see what to eat with braces.
Can you drink water with the aligners in?
Yes, plain water that is cold or at room temperature can be drunk with the aligners in. Water does not harm the aligners and does not affect the teeth. However, it is important that the drink is plain water; for flavored water, vitamin-added water or sugary drinks, the aligners need to come out. Hot water is also not recommended, because the aligner can lose its shape from heat.
Do hot drinks damage aligners?
Clear aligners are made from a heat-sensitive thermoplastic material. A hot soup, tea or coffee can warm the surface of the aligner and distort its shape. An aligner whose shape has changed does not fit the teeth fully and may not produce the planned tooth movement. For this reason, hot drinks should always be consumed with the aligners out. Even if a drink is just lukewarm, that is not enough of a reason to consume it with the aligners in; the safest approach is to take the aligners out for everything except plain water.
If your aligner has come into contact with a hot drink and fits differently when you put it in, call the clinic before continuing to use it. In this case, going back to the previous aligner or preparing a new one may be necessary.
Do tea, coffee and cigarettes stain aligners?
Yes. Because the aligners are transparent, substances that give color, such as tea, coffee, red wine, colored drinks and tobacco, can cause yellowing and clouding on the aligner surface. The teeth can become discolored as well; moreover, the aligner can keep the coloring liquid in contact with the tooth surface for hours. For this reason, it is recommended to take the aligners out for tea and coffee, rinse the mouth with water afterward, and put the aligners in after cleaning the teeth.
The same rule applies to cigarettes and other tobacco products: they are not used with the aligners in. Cigarette smoke can yellow the aligner and cause odor; it also affects mouth and gum health negatively. Electronic cigarettes and vape products should not be used with the aligners either. To reduce the risk of staining, it is enough to clean both the aligners and the teeth regularly, that is, to wash the aligners every day with a soft brush and lukewarm water; do not use a hard brush or abrasive toothpaste, because it scratches the aligner surface and makes it easier for stains to take hold.
For which foods and drinks are the aligners taken out, and for which not?
| Situation | Can the aligners stay in? | Point to note |
|---|---|---|
| Plain water (cold or room temperature) | Yes | It should be plain water, not flavored or vitamin water |
| Tea, coffee, hot drinks | No | Heat distorts the aligner and color transfers to the surface; rinse your mouth after drinking |
| Fruit juice, carbonated and sugary drinks | No | Sugar and acid stay in contact with the tooth surface under the aligner |
| Milk and dairy drinks | No | Take the aligners out even if unsweetened; residue should not stay under the aligner |
| Alcoholic drinks | No | Most contain sugar and color; take the aligners out and put them in their case |
| Chewing gum | No | It can stick to the aligner; do not chew it without taking the aligners out |
| Cigarettes and tobacco products | No | Staining and odor; not used with the aligners in |
| Solid foods and snacks | No | Clean your teeth after eating and put the aligners back in |
What should you do after eating, and when are the aligners put back in?
After finishing a meal, instead of putting the aligners straight back in, you should follow a short cleaning routine:
- Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and clean between the teeth with floss or an interdental brush.
- If brushing is not possible, at least rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and make sure no food residue remains.
- Rinse the aligners too with lukewarm or cold water; gently clean them with a soft brush if needed.
- Put the aligners over your teeth and make sure they are fully seated.
These steps are especially important: an aligner put on over uncleaned teeth holds residue and bacteria in contact with the teeth for hours. For a detailed cleaning routine for the teeth, see the guides on how to clean clear aligners and oral hygiene during treatment.
How do you manage 20–22 hours a day?
Every time you take the aligners out reduces the total daily wear time. That is why planning your eating and drinking routine matters. Some practical suggestions:
- Group your meals: Snacking often through the day means taking the aligners out and putting them back in often. Focusing on main meals protects aligner wear time.
- Cut back on snacks: Frequent snacking also increases the cavity risk, because the teeth are in contact with sugar all day.
- Drink coffee and tea with meals: Drinking during a meal instead of taking a separate drink break shortens the time the aligners spend out of the mouth.
- Clean before bed: After your last meal, brush your teeth and put the aligners in; since the aligners will stay in your mouth all night, your teeth need to be clean.
- Track your time: You can monitor how long the aligners stay in with reminder apps or a simple notebook.
For the general framework of aligner use, see how to wear clear aligners; for detailed eating and drinking rules, see the blog article Invisalign eating and drinking rules.
How do you protect your aligners when eating out?
The most common cause of lost aligners is an aligner wrapped in a napkin during a meal and forgotten on the table. Many aligners that end up in the trash are lost this way. When eating out, pay attention to the following:
- Put the aligners in their case as soon as you take them out; do not leave them in a napkin, a pocket or on a tray.
- Keep the case in plain view on the table, within reach until your meal is over.
- Keep a small toothbrush, floss and a small tube of toothpaste in your bag.
- If you can't brush, rinse with water and, if possible, clean your teeth in a suitable place.
- After the meal, make sure you have put the aligners in before putting the case back in your bag.
The page on clear aligner care products can help with cases and care items, and clear aligners while traveling can help on trips. If an aligner is lost or broken, look at the steps on the clear aligner problems page and contact your clinic.
How should aligners be used during fasting and extended meal routines?
In periods when food is not eaten during the day, such as Ramadan, the meal routine changes. In this case the number of times the aligners are removed may decrease; however, cleaning the teeth after iftar and suhoor, aligner wear time and your doctor's recommendation remain important. You can look at the page on clear aligners during Ramadan about this.
Why is taking the aligners out when eating or drinking so important?
There are three main reasons. The first is to protect the aligner's shape and integrity; the second is to protect the teeth from cavities and staining; the third is to keep treatment progressing in the planned time. Incorrect use of the aligners can delay tooth movement and create a need for additional aligners. So following the eating and drinking rules directly affects the duration and outcome of treatment. The aligner change schedule page may also be useful for aligner changes.
How can you get information about eating and drinking routines at our clinic?
The Invisalign system is used at Funda Sarıkaya Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic. When the aligners are delivered, Funda Pekyılmaz Sarıkaya, specialist orthodontist (Uzm. Dt.), explains the eating, drinking and cleaning routine to fit your daily life; at check-ups, if there is a problem with aligner staining or wear time, it is evaluated together. The clinic is located at Park Oran Ofis and is open Monday–Saturday, 09:00–20:00. For your questions you can call 0312 911 60 36 or write on WhatsApp. This information is general; the decision for you is made after the examination.