Can You Drink Coffee, Wine or Smoke with Invisalign? (Guide for Southend & Leigh-on-Sea Patients)

If you’re thinking about Invisalign treatment, it’s important to know what you are getting into. Treatment can last a long time, usually around 12 – 24 months, so you need to have all of the information before you get started.

Rather than choosing a treatment plan based on current trends, you should instead think about your personal circumstances and if you are able to stick to the plan for the duration. You might find that fixed metal braces are a much better match for you.

Invisalign explained

Invisalign is an orthodontic system used to straighten teeth. Instead of using brackets fixed to the teeth with a wire joining them together, Invisalign uses a set of clear plastic aligners. These are shaped to fit your teeth and apply gentle pressure to move them into the correct alignment.

The aligners are removable, meaning you can take them out to eat, drink and brush your teeth. This makes for a much more relaxed treatment plan, as you won’t need to adjust your diet or follow any special instructions for brushing your teeth.

While the treatment plan is flexible, there are considerations to think about. For example, you’ll need to remove your aligners when you drink anything that isn’t cold water. This can make certain habits impractical, which would mean you either need to choose a different orthodontic system or give up these habits for the duration of the treatment.

Can I drink coffee or wine with Invisalign?

When wearing your Invisalign aligners, you can’t drink any liquids that aren’t cold water. Hot drinks will risk warping your aligners and making them ineffective, while some drinks can cause your aligners to develop stains that make them less invisible. Build up of food and drinks on your aligners can also lead to bacteria growth which puts your teeth at risk of decay.

This is why you can’t drink coffee or wine while wearing Invisalign, but you can remove them occasionally to enjoy your favourite drinks. The issue with this is that you might not be wearing your aligners for long enough per day if you regularly remove them to enjoy coffee, wine or other drinks.

You need to wear your Invisalign aligners for around 20 – 22 hours per day, so if you usually drink multiple coffees per day, this could make the treatment less effective. So while you can enjoy them occasionally, you might not be able to enjoy them as often as usual if you want the treatment to be effective.

Can I smoke with Invisalign?

No, Invisalign is not suitable for smokers (both cigarettes and vapes) as the heat will warp the aligners and make it less effective. Smoking will also lead to dry mouth, which increases your risk of developing tooth decay while wearing Invisalign. And finally, smoking will also stain aligners, making them much less invisible than you might hope.

If you are thinking about orthodontics as a smoker, you should either quit before you start treatment, or choose a treatment plan that won’t be affected by smoking. The first option would be better for your oral health and for your wider health. Invisalign could help to motivate you to quit and keep you on track once you start treatment.

Removing your aligners to smoke is not a good idea, as it means that you’re unlikely to meet the daily wear time requirements.