Beer/white wine with aligners in?

[ChicagoJohn]

I'm not a big drinker or anything but on occasion I do end up in situations where I want to be social and enjoy a couple of glasses of wine or a few beers without having to keep my aligners out for a long time.

For instance, my girlfriend's parents were in town last weekend. I bar-b-qued and drank some beers with her dad out by the grill. I could have taken my aligners out for this but I'm glad that I didn't because we spent about 2 hours by the grill in which time I was able to bond a bit with her dad whom I never get to see. It would have been awkward if I'd have refused to to drink a few beers with him because of my aligners being in and I didn't want to take them out so I just drank the beer with them in.

I'm on tray number 4/15U, 4/7L and I've probably drank beer or white wine with the aligners in on 3 or 4 occasions. I always make it a point to rinse with water as often as I can when doing this and I take the aligners out and brush asap when I'm done. I haven't noticed any problems yet.

Just wondering how often you guys do stuff like this?

[Ryleigh]

Yup, If I'm home I use a straw with the unlikely belief that it won't go under my aligners. Always rinse afterwards too.

[Phantom Muse]

Gosh, I am the chicken here - but I won't have anything other than regular water while wearing the aligners. On the upside, this philosophy has been a great diet aid for me...

[angel9165]

I've drank beer and white wine with them in. But I've also indulged on red wine but rinsed right after I finished the glass. I do have a mixed drink on occasion in social settings while using a straw and as always, rinse when I'm done. I have season tickets to a hockey team here in my town and it's really had to not drink or not wear your trays for over 3 hours so I cheat. I do take care to rinse, brush, go for regular cleanings, etc so I think you have to do what will make you most faithful in the long run. It's hard to wear them 22 hours a day and not cheat.
Summer is here and a cold beer is always so good...cheers!

[selfmadetool]

I've drank everything from soda to fruit juices and ate everything from steak to mashed potatoes with my aligners in and my teeth are fine so far. I say go for it!

[Rosieee]

There is no way on this planet in this universe would I ever drink ANYTHING but water with my aligners in!!!

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Most of our patients who have experimented with drinking anything other than water have also found that they develop the first cavities they've ever had in their lives. This includes a dental personnel from other offices that we are treating. I would stick to water .

It is probably better to leave your aligners out and wear them on a longer cycle than drink other beverages with them in. The next comment is usually that a patient wants treatment to take as little time as possible. Unfortunately, this is one of the lifestyle adjustments that Invisalign patients should be prepared to make. Good luck!

[Sunny]

We explain to our patients that they're doing this to improve the look of their teeth ... so do they really want to risk the health of the enamel on those same teeth and possible permanent damage and discolouration.

John brushing asap is not good for your teeth either, as the acid on your teeth reacts even worse when rubbed with your tooth brush, backwards and forwards over the enamel. You're better to wait 30 minutes before brushing ... and during that 30 minutes, rinse your mouth regularly with water.

Our ortho's give the same advice as Dr Tam ... if you need to leave your retainers out, due to being at a function for longer than a few of hours, then add an extra day or two, up to a week ... so that your teeth make the necessary changes before you force the next aligner on.

[ChicagoJohn]

Thanks for the advice guys! Very helpful.

[angel9165]

Dr Tam & Sunny are dead on right. If it's not water, you are definitely taking a risk at damaging your teeth. I wish I was a better patient.

[fangtastic]

I drank beer/wine/other alcoholic with my aligners in, maybe once every couple of weeks. I know I shouldn't have been doing this but it was either that or have them out for up to 8 hours straight on a night out.

Lucky for me I had a dental appointment including an xray today and my dentist said everything is fine. That's not to say it'd work for everyone. I have been told before that I have strong enamel, if your teeth are weaker I'd say they'd be more likely to be damaged.

Also, I'd try to drink with a straw where possible when drinking with them in and rinse with water as often as possible