Foods To Eat And Avoid During Teeth Straightening Treatments

At Eriks Dental Group, we use clear teeth aligners to continuously and slowly help patients realign their teeth properly. This orthodontic teeth straightening treatment is great for anyone who doesn’t want to undergo the uncomfortable and long process that typically comes with traditional metal braces.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a dental orthodontic treatment using custom-made aligners that are changed out periodically, roughly every two to three weeks. This process can take anywhere from six to eighteen months, depending on the severity of your teeth misalignment.

Similar to a retainer, which helps keep teeth from shifting out of their places, an Invisalign aligner gradually moves and aligns teeth to create beautiful smiles. These aligners are made from an impression of your teeth and fitted to your mouth.

During your visit, our local dentist creates a custom treatment plan using advanced technology for each patient according to their smile goals. This allows you to see progress over time before treatment even starts. These aligners are worn up to 22 hours a day and are only removed when eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing.

Who Is a Good Candidate For Teeth Straightening?

The ideal candidate for teeth straightening in Boynton Beach includes patients experiencing:

• Gapped teeth
• Overlapping or overcrowding
• Crooked teeth
• Bite misalignment issues

These clear braces offer a fast way to get the smile of your dreams. Best of all, when you straighten your teeth, it makes it easier to brush and floss properly. This helps you reduce your chances of being diagnosed with other dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease.

What Foods are Great For You During Teeth Straightening?

When you’re having teeth straightening, eat soft and easy-to-chew foods.

Some examples of foods to eat during Invisalign include:

• Fruits like berries, bananas, melons, or even applesauce
• Vegetables like mashed potatoes and cooked peas, beans, broccoli, or carrots
• Starches like pasta, oatmeal, or rice
• Protein like grilled chicken, fish, tofu, or scrambled eggs
• Dairy like soft cheese, yogurt, or ice cream
• Soups or broths

What Foods Should I Avoid With Invisalign?

One of the benefits of Invisalign is that you can eat a lot more food than if you had metal braces.

Some foods that you should avoid during treatment:

• Hard food: Raw vegetables or hard fruit like apples need to be cut into small pieces so they do not damage your teeth aligners.
• Sticky food: You cannot chew gum with Invisalign. Caramel or jelly beans are prone to pulling on aligners, which can cause them to break.
• Chewy food: Bagels and taffy may be hard to choose with your aligners.
• Food that may get stuck: Nuts, seeds, or popcorn kernels are not recommended.

While not banned, acidic beverages like coffee or tea can leave a tint on your aligners, making them look discolored. Also, high temperatures can change the aligner’s shape, so removing them while eating and drinking is advisable.

Benefits of Getting Your Teeth Straightened​​​​​​

While improving your oral health is beneficial, there are many other advantages of getting teeth straightening.

• Undetectable: These aligners are less noticeable than traditional metal braces.
• Removable: You will remove them to drink, eat, brush, or floss. This helps reduce plaque buildup and cavity development.
• Fast treatment time: Invisalign is a much faster process than metal braces.
• Improved oral health: Because you can remove your aligners, you will see better oral health results.
• Comfortable to wear: These trays are comfortable and easy to wear as they are custom-made for your teeth.

Best Oral Hygiene Tips For Invisalign Patients

Cleaning your Invisalign trays every time that you brush your teeth is advised. Soak them in denture cleaning crystals and warm water for at least 20 minutes daily. Also, brush them to remove any stains. Make sure they are completely dry before putting them back on your teeth.

Do not use toothpaste on them because it is abrasive and could scratch them. Finally, do not use mouthwash, as it contains strong ingredients that may damage your trays, too.

FAQs about Teeth Straightening

How do they differ from metal braces?

Invisalign is a convenient way to straighten your teeth and requires little to no life changes during the orthodontic process. Because the trays are transparent, you can straighten your teeth without unsightly metal and wires. They are also gentle on your mouth, cheeks, and gums, while braces contain sharp edges that may cut you.

Are there any limitations with Invisalign?

The only real limitation is that it can’t fix severe malocclusion. This is because aligners aren’t as effective in moving molars with deep roots.

Do you accept dental insurance?

At Eriks Dental, we are in-network for Guardian PPO, Metlife, PDP Plus PPO, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, and Aetna Preferred PPO. Our staff will submit insurance forms for you to help you recover as most of your benefits should you be out of network. We also offer Care Credit, a financial program that offers extended pay periods for dental services.

Schedule a Consultation to Learn More About Teeth Straightening

When you want a smile makeover, dental procedures like Invisalign go a long way. While it straightens your teeth, it also helps improve your oral health, too, as straight teeth are easier to clean.

During your visit to our Boynton Beach dental office, Dr. Eriks, DMD, can listen to your goals and create a custom treatment plan that helps you achieve your dream smile. To schedule an appointment to discuss teeth straightening, call Eriks Dental Group at 561-733-4004.