Drinking alcohol with aligners in

[EmeraldCastrol]

In my last 1-2 days of an aligner set, if it corresponds to a party I have to go to, I will usually drink alcohol leaving the aligners in, as I know I'll be replacing them in a day or two anyway. Just wondering if anyone else does that and if there's anything terribly wrong with me doing this?

It's just horrible wearing aligners and drinking... because to enjoy drinking properly it takes place over several hours.. and thats usually too long to go without the aligners OR i don't want to be taking them out and going to the bathroom every half hour to an hour just to put them in again.

[Sunny]

What do you think the long term affects might be to the enamel on your teeth ... the bit that wears away, decays, stains etc? Drinking water only with aligners in, is not about aligners ... it's about the health of the enamel on your teeth.

[MJ2030]

I have drank alcoholic drinks with my aligners in as well. It's definitely not ideal but the only time I really drink is on the weekends with my boyfriend and friends when we go out, and you're right, taking out your aligners for hours at a time isn't an option. Unless you take them out, chug your drink, and run to a bathroom and brush and stick them back in, it's all but impossible to ONLY drink water for 2 weeks straight with your aligners in (I'm sure people are capable of it, you can always choose to not drink when you go out). Of course, you'll definitely want to scrub your teeth and aligners down really well when you get back home!

[gap]

I would likely be classified as a bit of an Invisalign "extremist" when it comes to following the water only requirement; however, I did find myself in Las Vegas for my birthday last year. Even the extremist I am found it next to impossible to maintain discipline, so what I did to manage was ensure I had bottle of water with me at all times while consuming the beverages of sin. Every few minutes, I would have a good swish with water.

Maybe you can give that a shot and see how it goes. It may even help to prevent a hangover

Cheers!

[jenx]

I do it on occasion--either vodka and soda or white wine. Beer at the end of an aligner. Sips of water in between drinks. With my lifestyle it just didn't make sense not to (and the distinction between vodka and mouthwash still not totally clear ). But that doesn't mean it is a good idea long term--I've just never had a problem so far, and it definitely helps my compliance.

[jenx]

Oh! I also have a prescription toothpaste with extra fluoride from my dentist, that I got when I got invisalign--I always wash out well after a drinking night and brush with that. I don't know if it really helps, but it makes me feel better about it.

[Sunny]

In the end it's your decision. What's important is that when you have problems with 'unexpected' cavities or damaged enamel in the years to come ... that you remember you made this decision and not blame invisalign or your orthodontist for the problems you've made for yourselves.

[jenx]

No, absolutely, Sunny is right--those of us who drink with aligners in do so at our own risk. It is not a good thing to do, it puts our enamel at risk, and it would be best not to do so if avoidable, and if one does (as I do) accept the possible consequences.

I think this is a tough issue with Invisalign. I can only speak for my own experience, but it strikes me as not unlikely that invisalign would appeal to people who are socially-conscious and appearance conscious, and who have professions and lives that demand a lot of social appearances. At least for me, I have to go to a lot of work functions, networking events, cocktail hours, what have you, and as someone who is socially- and appearance-conscious enough to want to fix my teeth, and do so without anyone noticing, it is hard to be put in a position where I have to turn down things like drinks at drinking-oriented social events. That kind of thing is noticed, and leads to people questioning . . . the sort of thing that I get Invisalign to avoid.

So, I put my enamel at risk instead of feeling awkward at required social events. It makes the treatment easier and less frustrating, I keep the aligners in longer, and I continue to live my life.

But yes, from a dental perspective, it is a bad thing to do. Good luck deciding what is best for you.

[b12]

I think you guys are being a bit nazi when it comes to this.

Being at a party one night and drinking with the trays on is NOT that huge a deal. Just think about it, it's not much worse than going hiking for a few days and lowering your oral hygiene routines for a little while. You're not going to get cavities just because you didn't brush your teeth one day and you won't get cavities just because you drank something with your trays on.

I think it's made into a huge deal simply to discourage people from doing it more often but 1 night in a week....i doubt it's significant as long as you clean up well afterwards.

[Sunny]

b12 ... it's nothing like not looking after your oral hygiene in the way you've described. The issue is that the aligner is designed to 'hold' your teeth closely, so that the correct movement can be achieved. This means that the acids and sugars that are in food and drink get in your aligners and damage the enamel on your teeth.

Most people choose invisalign as a treatment type due to the aligners being removable, and this is a definite advantage. There are aso responsibilities with advantages like this ... and the main ones with invisalign are wearing the aligners 22 hours a day and only drinking water when you're wearing them.

[bpp]

I do it maybe 2-3 times a month... wear them in for 3-4 hours while drinking alcohol. I stay away from beer.. drink more liquor (short bursts, so less exposure). After every drink or 2, I go to the bathroom, rinse my mouth out, wash aligners in sink and put them back on. No issues so far. Then again, haven't been to the dentist since starting Invisalign. Have an appointment in 2-3 weeks.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

The official word is that you should not have anything other than water with your aligners on. This absolves the doctor and Align of any complaints of cavities or decalcification because of "unwanted" behaviours.

That being said, I have worn Invisalign as well, and it is very tough to go out when wearing them. As mentioned above, a lot of people get Invisalign so that they are not encumbered aesthetically in social settings. However, having to wear them out all the time, might be a bit of a hindrance in the social scene. My personal preference was to remove them right before I had a drink, and then keep them out for the few hours (admittedly in a tissue in my pocket but I recommend a case for those of you who have heard the story of my friend's dog). Right after, I'd rinse out very well with water (usually drinking the water to have a more comfortable morning after!), and pop the aligners back in, knowing I would be home to thoroughly clean my aligners and my teeth at home before bed. It's easy to not want to clean up after having some beverages, but I always made sure I didn't leave my teeth exposed to acid trapped in the aligners for an extended period.

I personally think this is the lesser of two evils compared to drinking with the aligners on. If the aligners are not in, the teeth don't move unless time is made up. If the aligners are in, you can get cavities. I have treated a dental hygienist who was cavity free for her entire life until her bachelorette party, during which she admitted to drinking with the aligners on. This was over the course of a weekend and she regrets not just using the aligners at night to retain the position of her teeth, and extending her treatment time slightly.

In all, again, everyone is responsible for the health of their own teeth. Drink with your aligners in at your own risk .

[tertelman]

I just posted this in the main invisible braces forum, but thought it would make sense to post here as well:

I wanted to point out that my orthodontist, who is one of the most respected Invisalign providers in the country, says that you can in fact drink almost any liquid (including alcohol) that is not hot, as long as you are sure to clean your teeth and the aligners afterward. He also says about 20% of his patients eat while wearing their aligners (with his blessing) and then clean their teeth and aligners afterward.

I asked him about the concerns related to tooth decay, and he said that whatever you eat and drink is going to stick to your teeth whether you are wearing aligners or not. It is true that saliva has less access to your teeth while wearing aligners, but it certainly isn't cut off entirely. In other words, if the food or drink gets to your teeth while wearing aligners, so too does saliva.

Sunny, you are obviously entitled to post your opinions about this or any other subject, but I wanted to make it clear that at least one very well-respected orthodontist has a different opinion.

[Sunny]

tertelman ... this is not my opinion ... it is the official word from the company who make the aligners.

This has been recorded above by Dr Tam ... a very well respected and skilled orthodontist. Plus it is the opinion of one of the ortho's I work with, who is also a very well respected and skilled orthodontist and among the top providers.

[tertelman]

tertelman ... this is not my opinion ... it is the official word from the company who make the aligners.

This has been recorded above by Dr Tam ... a very well respected and skilled orthodontist. Plus it is the opinion of one of the ortho's I work with, who is also a very well respected and skilled orthodontist and among the top providers.

It is in the interest of the company that makes the aligners to tell people not to eat or drink while wearing the aligners, out of an abundance of caution and to cover themselves from potential criticism and lawsuits. Clearly it is not a good practice to eat and drink frequently while wearing aligners, especially if you don't clean them properly soon afterward. But to imply that if someone drinks a beer or two while wearing aligners once in a while that person is putting himself at a measurably higher risk of tooth decay flies in the face of what my ortho has told me (and common sense).

In any case, I just wanted to point out that at least one highly-respected orthodontist disagrees with what you have repeatedly decreed as gospel on this board. Others can take it for whatever it's worth.

[ports]

More chemistry. Ethyl alcohol, which is the alcohol you drink in beer, wine, liquor, blah blah blah.. is also an acid, and an excellent organic solvent. It dissolves all kinds of things from your tooth enamel to your throat. Entraining that into your aligner for a few hours is bad on two levels. One for your teeth, and depending on what that aligner is made of, will it deform, discolor, soften in ethanol.

[ports]

Also, Invisalign trays are made from implantable grade polyurethane. Regular polyurethane receives a 4 in the chemical compatibility chart for Ethyl Alcohol. 4 = the worst, severe damage grade.

[MJ2030]

haha I think we all need to take a nice, deep breath..

[b12]

Here's the other thing. I am currently on tray 3 and so far, after the first 2 days, I feel like my teeth are already in the new position and the trays are basically holding them in that position. I don't feel the tension on my teeth after the first 2 days so even if you need to have them out for a night of partying, does that really mean you have to make up the lost time? I don't think so. There's people on here who wear their trays for 14 days, others for longer and others for shorter. AlignTech has to play it safe with their recommendations. I think there's a lot of room left for error while still achievement good results.

[Sunny]

B12 the orthodontist designs your treatment and uses AlignTech to make the trays according to this design. The aligners are not just designed so that you can feel your teeth moving. Much of the moving can not be felt or seen due to it being so small. Also there's a process that is required, where the bone breaks down, the teeth move, the bone builds again ... and the teeth prepare for the next movement. The ortho's who are qualified to design invisalign treatment well, are skilled in the healthiest way to move teeth and the last thing they want for their patients is for them to be in treatment for one minute longer than is necessary. Therefore if your ortho says 22 hours a day for two weeks is what is needed ... please believe them.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Some doctors move teeth more with each aligner. If they are moving less, they can be worn for shorter periods of time.

A good way to think about this is with braces. Most people feel nothing after the first couple of days after an adjustment, yet they are moving for weeks and weeks until the next visit. It's the same thing with the aligner. You don't have to feel something on the teeth in order for them to be moving.

[Lovelydaze]

With all due respect to dentists and orthodontists...I think it's pretty unrealistic to only ever drink water with the aligners in and to take them out for every coffee, vodka, or crystal light I drink and still wear the aligners 22 hours a day. Maybe this works for people without a crazy schedule, but I would say for the vast majority of working adults...good luck. I understand dentists and orthodontists have to tell you not to because that's what is recommended, but sometimes I wish everyone would get on the realistic bandwagon. Chances are pretty good that you will have to brush your teeth in the following couple hours anyway. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm trying to make myself as least miserable as possible!

[Sunny]

Lovelydaze for the people who's lifestyle doesn't suit the invisalign type of orthodontic treatment, there is always labial or lingual brackets. With brackets ... you can eat and drink whenever you want.

[Lovelydaze]

Ugh I would never put metal in my mouth even if it was on the back of my teeth. I'm pretty sure that's why most of us chose Invisalign. Also, invisalign's website says you can drink alcohol and other drinks in moderation with the aligners in as long as you be sure to clean them and tour teeth soon after.

[schmick]

Also, invisalign's website says you can drink alcohol and other drinks in moderation with the aligners in as long as you be sure to clean them and tour teeth soon after.

Really? Do you have a link Lovelydaze?

[Lovelydaze]

How Much Does Invisalign Cost and Other FAQs | www.Invisalign.com ...then go to "already an invisalign patient." expand that section. Then expand the section where it says "Can I drink alcohol with aligners in?"

[Sunny]

It's interesting ... as the FAQs contradict in several places and go against the instructions of the makers of the aligners. the comment about alcohol does come with a warning ... and the questin is ... are you prepared to risk the enamel on your teeth, when having them looking better is your goal?

... you're required to remove your aligners to eat and drink. ...

... it is important that you brush your teeth after each meal and prior to reinserting your aligners to maintain fresh breath and proper hygiene. ...

Because of the high sugar content in alcohol, a moderate amount would be fine to consume, as long as care is taken to clean the teeth and the aligners soon after so as not to trap sugar between them. ...

... We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks.

[tertelman]

It's interesting ... as the FAQs contradict in several places and go against the instructions of the makers of the aligners. the comment about alcohol does come with a warning ... and the questin is ... are you prepared to risk the enamel on your teeth, when having them looking better is your goal?

Sunny, have you at least considered the possibility that you are mistaken when you say that drinking the occasional alcoholic beverage while wearing aligners will "risk enamel on your teeth"? Drinking alcohol or any sugary drink is a risk to your enamel, but it is very much open to debate how much more of a risk you are taking if you drink occasionally while wearing Invisalign.

I'm sorry, but you shouldn't just spew your opinion as if it is irrefutable fact, especially considering the fact that my orthodontist AND the Invisalign's own website have said it is ok to do occasionally.

[MJ2030]

Why is everyone getting so defensive on this topic..?

[jackeen]

I honestly (my thoughts not influenced) dont understand what damage could be done as long as your teeth are cleaned as soon as possible afterwards (as well as the aligners of course).

Im sure that for most of us, we werent nearly as vigilent when it came to dental hygiene pre-invisalign which meant that whatever we ate or drank during the day probably sat on our teeth until bedtime.

How is drinking alcohol whilst wearing aligners on occasion really going to ruin our teeth when our teeth have probably never been so well looked after?

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

I think the key is the "soon after". They don't specify what time frame you can keep alcohol against your teeth for. Depending on how quickly this "soon after" is, it might not actually be less troublesome to remove the aligners for drinking, rather than leave them in, drink, and then have to remove the quickly to clean the aligners as well as your teeth.

I'm an orthodontist and see hundreds of Invisalign patients every year. I'm very realistic about this as I have been a patient before. I'm going to give you my personal opinion again...

I personally think this is the lesser of two evils compared to drinking with the aligners on to remove them before drinking. If the aligners are not in, the teeth don't move unless time is made up. If the aligners are in, you can get cavities. I have treated a dental hygienist who was cavity free for her entire life until her bachelorette party, during which she admitted to drinking with the aligners on. This was over the course of a weekend and she regrets not just using the aligners at night to retain the position of her teeth, and extending her treatment time slightly.

In all, again, everyone is responsible for the health of their own teeth. Drink with your aligners in at your own risk... however little you may think the risk is .

[tertelman]

Dr. Tam, I certainly respect your opinion on this, given your training and experience. And I also appreciate it that you describe it as your "opinion."

My only complaint (not with you) is when people claim that something is irrefutable fact, even though there is clearly a difference of opinion on the issue. I do find it remarkable that the dental hygienist you treated attributes her cavity to one weekend of drinking while wearing aligners. For whatever it's worth, I have a few drinks while wearing aligners about once per week, and at my regular 6-month cleaning last week my dentist said my teeth have never been in better shape. I'm several months into my treatment currently. I know some will be quick to point out that eventually all the enamel on my teeth with be burned away by explosive chemical reactions caused by my Invisalign, but for now at least I'm doing ok

[GoofyGG]

I drink lots of wine and always take the aligners out - I don't like the unclean feeling drinking with them in. I expect my liver will give up long before me teeth will

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Dr. Tam, I certainly respect your opinion on this, given your training and experience. And I also appreciate it that you describe it as your "opinion."

My only complaint (not with you) is when people claim that something is irrefutable fact, even though there is clearly a difference of opinion on the issue. I do find it remarkable that the dental hygienist you treated attributes her cavity to one weekend of drinking while wearing aligners. For whatever it's worth, I have a few drinks while wearing aligners about once per week, and at my regular 6-month cleaning last week my dentist said my teeth have never been in better shape. I'm several months into my treatment currently. I know some will be quick to point out that eventually all the enamel on my teeth with be burned away by explosive chemical reactions caused by my Invisalign, but for now at least I'm doing ok

The hygienist is now in Vivera retainers and I will be seeing her shortly. I will ask her how long she thinks she had her aligners in continuously after having her drinks. Again, the wording from Align is tricky since "soon after" is not a quantifiable amount of time .

The way I look at it, if you're going to have a drink with them on and need to clean "soon after", you might as well take them out for that "soon after" amount of time and save yourself the risk, as well as the slightly increased difficulty cleaning the aligners.

[schmick]

Hmm, I committed a sin last night and had a beer with the Aligners in... To be honest, I think next time I'm just going to remove themor just not drink at all... The feeling of drinking with them in just didn't seem right...

Dr Tam, what worries me is that if I don't have my aligners in for the required 22hrs, how quickly do teeth move back to their original position? I had my aligners out for probably 3hrs total throughout various times of the day yesterday and when putting them on in the evening after my nighttime brush, I felt as though they were "tight" again....

This freaked me out! =(

[Crush]

Hmm, I committed a sin last night and had a beer with the Aligners in... To be honest, I think next time I'm just going to remove themor just not drink at all... The feeling of drinking with them in just didn't seem right...

Dr Tam, what worries me is that if I don't have my aligners in for the required 22hrs, how quickly do teeth move back to their original position? I had my aligners out for probably 3hrs total throughout various times of the day yesterday and when putting them on in the evening after my nighttime brush, I felt as though they were "tight" again....

This freaked me out! =(

I think you're safe, Schmick. If you had them out for only 3 hours, that means you still had them in for 21. The invisalign website states 20-22 hrs is what's recommended. I know most ortho's prefer 22 hrs, but for some of us, that is nearly impossible. I know I only manage about 21 hrs a day myself, but I make up for the lost time by wearing the aligners a couple extra days before I switch. Although some say they switch trays after only 10 days instead of 2 weeks, so I suppose everyone is a bit different. In any case, I wouldn't worry too much.

Regards,
Crush

[reneegavin]

I asked my ortho this yesterday when getting my aligners in, because hubby and I have a trip planned next week to visit some wineries. They said to deep them out while touring, but be sure to put them back in at night. They were pretty adamant about nothing but water.

[Victorian Lady]

Ugh I would never put metal in my mouth even if it was on the back of my teeth. I'm pretty sure that's why most of us chose Invisalign. Also, invisalign's website says you can drink alcohol and other drinks in moderation with the aligners in as long as you be sure to clean them and tour teeth soon after.

That's great, Lovelydaze! If their website agrees, what's the problem?

Personally (as I said in another thread), I drink unsweetened ice tea and iced coffee with aligners in place. Ortho said it was fine but it may stain my trays. Big deal. Because if I do stain them, I can always remove the stains with a vinegar and water soak.

The only thing upsetting me right now are the 2 frickin' thick and long attachments put on my two lower front teeth yesterday (among other places). I didn't have the attachments with my first tray. I had to sand the attachments down because I literally kept biting my lip when I tried to chew! Now the inside of my lip is so sore, even after sanding the rough edge of the aligner in that area.

All I can say is whoever thought attachments for the 2 bottom teeth were necessary did not take customer comfort to heart. If I had known I would have them there when I signed on the bottom line, I would have opted for regular braces!

[bpp]

I do it maybe 2-3 times a month... wear them in for 3-4 hours while drinking alcohol. I stay away from beer.. drink more liquor (short bursts, so less exposure). After every drink or 2, I go to the bathroom, rinse my mouth out, wash aligners in sink and put them back on. No issues so far. Then again, haven't been to the dentist since starting Invisalign. Have an appointment in 2-3 weeks.

This post is almost 6 months later... but I've changed my mind. When I go out, I just take the aligners out for 3-4 hours at a time. No problem, I just wear em a day or 2 extra. Nothing to worry about. I've been making amazing progress according the my ortho and I have very few refinements as a result.

[GoofyGG]

When I go out, I just take the aligners out for 3-4 hours at a time. No problem, I just wear em a day or 2 extra. Nothing to worry about. I've been making amazing progress according the my ortho and I have very few refinements as a result.

This is what I do now. I don't add extra time though and all seems to be well so far. Last check up tomorrow before the final couple of trays. SO EXCITING!!!!!

[aidlilmom]

How is drinking alcohol whilst wearing aligners on occasion really going to ruin our teeth when our teeth have probably never been so well looked after?

So true... My oral hygeine has improved ten fold since starting my treatment. This thread gave me a good chuckle!

[paulmerc]

My ortho said, best to take them out for any drinking other than water BUT IF you want to drink something and not take them out USE a straw?

[Nicki11]

This is such an interesting debate - I don't know if there are any right or wrong answers as I guess everyone is different.

Personally, I leave my aligners in when I am out having a few drinks. I never have more than two alcholic drinks these days and only drink about once a fortnight. I always have plenty of water as well to hopefully wash away the alcohol as best as possible.

As soon as I get home, I soak my aligners in denture cleaner and clean my teeth thoroughly.

The way I look at it is I want my teeth to be constantly moving and as long as I'm really strict with cleaning them properly afterwards, it hopefully won't do too much damage. Plus like other people have said here, my teeth have really never been cleaner. I am brushing and flossing three to four times daily, and using mouthrinse twice daily. Surely a couple of vodkas once a fortnight can't do too much damage, right????

U - 6/20
L - 6/13

[Victorian Lady]

I know this topic is old but I found this on the Invisalign Q&A:

Can I drink alcohol with the aligners in?

Because of the high sugar content in alcohol, a moderate amount would be fine to consume, as long as care is taken to clean the teeth and the aligners soon after so as not to trap sugar between them. The same applies for any sugary beverage.

[GoofyGG]

I know this topic is old but I found this on the Invisalign Q&A:

Can I drink alcohol with the aligners in?

Because of the high sugar content in alcohol, a moderate amount would be fine to consume, as long as care is taken to clean the teeth and the aligners soon after so as not to trap sugar between them. The same applies for any sugary beverage.

Trouble is, the don't define what 'soon' is!

[MzSJP]

There seems to be lots of mixed opinions about this, but as a person who's spent thousands of dollars on dental work (fillings, root canals, etc.), I think I'll choose NOT to drink alcohol with the aligners in. It's not worth the risk of cavities for me. That being said, I am a very social person. I actually have a holiday party to go to this weekend. I will have to map out a game plan but its looking like I'll be starving myself all day so that I can comfortably and guilt-freely (I am determined to wear the aligners for 22 hrs/day) keep the aligners out for cocktail hr and dinner. We'll see!!

[aff1959]

I'll throw a different spin on this. I am finished with Invisalign on my bottom teeth and I start 10 of 11 on upper teeth on Wednesday. I like my occasional beer. What I found that works for me is to drink my draft beer through a straw. I admit it does feel a little strange when I sit down down at the bar and the bartender puts a Miller Lite draft in front of me with a straw in it. I find that drinking through a straw that I am able to drink the beer where it goes right down my throat without touching my aligners. The beauty of getting older is that I don't care what people think when I drink through a straw. lol I am an avid flosser, water pik user, and electric toothbrush user.

[reiidlynch]

Alcohol is very dangerous for good health. It make hard effects on persons and create bad effects on different parts of body. It effects on teeth too which as yellow signs and different disease.

[GoofyGG]

Alcohol is very dangerous for good health..

So are lots of things but life wouldn't be worth living without being able to indulge a little in what you like!

[CarrieMpls]

My ortho told me I was fine to drink anything with them in. He said maybe if I was a heavy coffee drinker the trays could discolor a bit, but since you get a new pair every 2 weeks it’s no big deal.

Yesterday I finished my first week. I’ve been drinking tea in the mornings (I have 2 cups), water throughout the day and I had drinks with friends on Saturday night. I floss and brush my teeth (with toothpaste) and the trays (water only) after every meal and before I go to bed. So far, they do not appear any different from the other trays I have waiting at home and my teeth are fine.

If I’m flossing and brushing 4 or more times a day, I’m not too worried about the occasional hour or two that a bit of a drink might be next to my teeth, especially since I’m careful to drink water after.

Perhaps I should mention I’ve never had a cavity in my life. My teeth are quite healthy. Just need some alignment.