If there is one thing braces-wearers could change, most of them would wish for zero food restrictions. Those brackets and wires can be limiting, and sometimes it’s the foods you love most that get nixed from your diet while braces are in place. Invisalign is the orthodontic alternative to conventional dental braces – constant, but not permanent, so you can eat whatever, whenever, and wherever you like. And being able to dig in to your favorite foodstuffs is especially important at Thanksgiving!

Follow these rules on this hearty holiday to keep your teeth and aligners in good shape:

Remove Invisalign for Every Meal

There are many reasons to be thankful for the innovation of Invisalign, but one of its biggest appeals is that it doesn’t get in the way of anyone’s appetite.

The aligners must be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day, but they must always be removed for meals and snacks. That might sound tedious at first, but this is actually freedom disguised as responsibility. No one can tell you that you can’t have the chewy, sticky, crunchy foods when you wear Invisalign. All you do is pop out your aligners and enjoy all the fixings at your Thanksgiving feast.

Skip the Snacking and Sipping

It is tempting to graze and snack all Thanksgiving Day, but don’t succumb. “Just one bite” is enough to damage your Invisalign aligners, so save all your noshing for when the aligners have been removed and you can truly dig in to the good stuff.

The same goes for beverages. You may want to sip on a glass of wine throughout your holiday or fortify yourself with a late cup of coffee, but the only thing you can drink while you’re wearing Invisalign is water. Any other beverage can stain the aligners, making them far more noticeable, and rendering that “nearly invisible” selling point moot.

Clean Up

Keeping Invisalign aligners clean is critical. Yes, you only wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, but you want those appliances to stay clean and clear the entire time so your orthodontic treatment remains under the radar.

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, make time to brush and floss after your meal and before Invisalign is snapped back in place. If you’re making a day trip for your dinner, take a travel brush and floss with you and don’t forget your Invisalign cases to stash your aligners while you’re eating.

The most important thing is to prevent bacteria and food particles from getting snugly stuck between teeth and Invisalign. Clean your teeth thoroughly, drink lots of water, and enjoy every bite of your Thanksgiving.

Be Thankful

Find out if you – or your teen – is a good candidate for Invisalign. You’ll be thankful for the process and the results – a beautiful, straight, white smile. Contact Dr. Roberts and de Marsche, Lawrenceville Invisalign providers, in Lawrenceville, NJ, to schedule your appointment.