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Foods to Avoid with Braces & Invisalign For the Best Experience

Home » Our Blog » Foods to Avoid with Braces & Invisalign For the Best Experience

This time, we’re looking at foods to avoid with braces & Invisalign. In previous posts, we looked at foods to eat with braces.

Notably, one difference between Invisalign and braces is that clear aligners can come out. With braces, they remain attached to your teeth throughout treatment. Thus, you can take out Invisalign while you eat and drink. As a result, you don’t have to as careful about food choices. 

As we saw in our previous post, braces can be damaged by sticky, hard, chewy, and crunchy foods.

However, some foods are best limited or avoided with Invisalign and braces. By avoiding certain foods, you can ensure your treatment goes smoothly. Limiting some foods can help you avoid the higher risk of tooth decay and avoid staining your appliances.

Today, one of the best parts of orthodontic treatments is the nearly invisible appearance. To make sure treatment remains discreet, you want to avoid discoloring clear aligners or braces. 

Some Foods Might Leave a Stain on Braces & Invisalign

Certain foods can leave a stain that discolors clear aligners and braces. Therefore, it’s a good idea to limit them or avoid them while working on your smile.

Staining foods (not a complete list):

  • Tea
  • Beets
  • Curry
  • Coffee
  • Berries
  • Mustard
  • Tomatoes
  • Red Wine
  • Soy sauce
  • Grape juice
  • Balsamic Vinegar
  • Some food colorings

With Invisalign, it’s always a good idea to take out the aligner to eat or drink anything but plain water. Otherwise, foods like these may leave you aligners looking a peculiar color. Similarly, clear ceramic braces could be discolored, though they are resistant to staining.

Hot Liquids and Invisalign

A benefit of Invisalign is the thin aligners are precisely fit and comfortable. However, the thin SmartTrack material is fairly delicate. Consequently, one must not put the aligners in hot water or drink hot beverages while they are in place. Otherwise, they could warp.

While braces won’t warp from hot beverages, some might stain them, such as drinking coffee. 

Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks with Braces & Invisalign

When you wear braces or Invisalign, it’s more important to practice good oral hygiene. During this time, it can be a little harder to keep your teeth and gums in top condition. That’s especially true with braces since food can get stuck where you can’t easily reach it.

Even with Invisalign, the American Association of Orthodontists suggests limiting or avoiding sugary foods and drinks.

Since liquids can get under the aligners, it’s best to drink only plain water. Notably, even some bottled waters can pose a problem because they are acidic.

Avoid drinks like these:

  • Sodas
  • Acidic liquids
  • Flavored water
  • Fruit drinks
  • Sports drinks
  • Energy drinks

If you drink something other than water, rinse and brush your teeth soon afterward, wherever possible.

 

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Avoid Sugary, Sticky, Crunchy, Hard Foods

In our prior post about foods to enjoy with braces, it’s best to avoid foods that are:

  • Hard
  • Sticky
  • Chewy 
  • Crunchy
  • Staining

However, do you have to watch out for these foods with Invisalign? Not as much, but it’s still a good idea to limit sugary foods and hard, crunchy foods, even with Invisalign. 

Since these foods coat the teeth with a sugary film, they can promote tooth decay. Also, hard, crunchy bits can be difficult to clean between teeth. Then, when you put your aligners back in, these particles can be trapped and lead to tooth decay.

Foods to avoid with braces and Invisalign, including staining beverages, sugary items, crunchy popcorn, chewy candies, and hard snacks, with Mill Creek Orthodontics branding.
Foods to Avoid with Braces & Invisalign

Foods to Avoid with Invisalign & Braces

Below, we list some examples of foods best limited or avoided with Invisalign & braces: 

  • Lollypops and suckers
  • Sticky, chewy candies
  • Taffy, Caramel, Starbursts, or similar
  • Hard candies and jawbreakers
  • Gummies and jellybeans
  • Sour candies 
  • Popcorn, chips, hard pretzels
  • Nuts and crunchy trail mix
  • Chewing gum or bubble gum

If you wear braces, watch out for these foods. By doing so, you can avoid an emergency visit to fix a broken or loose wire or bracket. With Invisalign, it’s still a good idea to limit or avoid them to keep your teeth strong and healthy.

On the other hand, you can still reward yourself with a softer, safe treat on occasion, like when you visit us a Mill Creek Orthodontics!

 

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We hope this list of foods to avoid with braces & Invisalign has been helpful. 

At first, it may seem restrictive. However, by sticking to the basic rules, your treatment will be smoother. Then, treatment is complete; you will be able to enjoy all your favorites again. Best of all, you’ll have a fantastic new smile to show for it!

Have any questions? Call us anytime at 434-977-9473. You may also contact us online here.

Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest content and updates.

 

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Elisa G.
I’d 100% recommend Dr.Marcus and his team. They are very kind and the end results are impeccable! Pricing is very flexible never had an issue with their price and either way it is worth it! Thank you guys for the great service that has been provided! - Yesmin
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Yesmin, for your kind words and recommendation! We're honored to have been part of your smile journey. Hearing that you're happy with your results means the world to us, and we're especially glad that our flexible payment options helped make your treatment experience a positive one. Our team is committed to providing exceptional care every step of the way, and your feedback is truly appreciated. Thank you for trusting us with your smile! - Dr. Markus and the MCO Team!
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Response from the owner:Thank you for such a wonderful review! Knowing that we were able to make your visit feel less stressful truly makes our day. We believe orthodontic care should be a positive experience, and we're so glad our team helped you feel comfortable and confident throughout your appointment. Your trust means everything to us, and we can't wait to see your smile again soon! - Dr. Markus and the MCO team!
Chelsea N.
My preteen daughter is on her second phase of braces and she has 0 fear about going to the orthodontist office. They make it so fun to be there— she gets a sweet treat after every visit from the staff— it’s just a nice pop in, catch up, and change her braces colors. We are literally in and out with a smile on her face! We love that the staff remembers her each visit and always checks in with how she’s been doing. We are so excited to see the finalized smile soon!
Response from the owner:Ah Chelsea, reading your review put a huge smile on our faces! Seeing your daughter grow through each phase of treatment has been such a joy, and it means the world to know that she walks into our office feeling comfortable, confident, and excited to be here. We love that her appointments have become more than just braces visits! They're a chance to catch up, hear what's new in her world, pick out fun colors, and celebrate the little milestones along the way. One of the things we cherish most is getting to know our patients as individuals, so hearing that she feels remembered and cared for at each visit is incredibly special to us. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this chapter in her life. We know how much dedication goes into the braces journey, and we're just as excited as you are to see that beautiful final smile revealed soon! - Dr. Markus and the MCO Team!
meghen H.
Great place to go if you/or child are looking for a consultant or thinking about getting braces! Makes me feel welcomed!
Response from the owner:Meghen, you're so kind! Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy to hear that you felt welcomed from the moment you walked through our doors. Whether it's a consultation or starting the journey toward braces, our goal is to make every visit comfortable, informative, and enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to being part of your smile journey! - Dr. Markus and the MCO Team!
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Response from the owner:Awww Mrs. Fang thank you so so much! Hearing that your son looks forward to his visits truly makes our day. Dr. Markus genuinely enjoys getting to know each child beyond their appointment, and he'll be thrilled to hear that their chats have become such a highlight for your son. We're so grateful that your family feels welcomed and cared for by our team. Thank you for trusting us with your son's smile, and we can't wait to see him again at his next visit! - Dr. Markus and the MCO Team!
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Ashley was great today! Even being a couple minutes late due to traffic, she came and got me right out the waiting room and I was out the office within 20 minutes!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind words, Mallory! We are so glad you're enjoying your experience with our team - that's our top priority! - Dr. Markus and the team
Haleigh B.
The staff has treated me and my girls with such kindness. Everyone is so welcoming even when my babies are being a little crazy haha. My teeth look amazing and I’m more confident thanks to Mill Creek Orthodontist
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We absolutely love having you and your girls in the office. It means so much to hear that you’ve felt welcomed and cared for by our team. We’re so happy you love your smile and that your confidence has grown. That’s exactly why we do what we do! Thank you for trusting Mill Creek Orthodontics with your family’s care. We can’t wait to keep seeing those smiling faces! - Dr. Markus and the MCO Team!
Jess Lamberty P.
You’re never to old to have your teeth upgraded! Loved every experience. Pain free process and caring staff.
Response from the owner:Aww, Jess, it was truly a pleasure seeing you today! We’re so grateful to hear that your experience felt positive and comfortable, that really means everything to us. Creating a welcoming environment where you feel at ease is something our whole team genuinely cares about, and it’s wonderful to know that came through during your visit. It’s been an absolute honor to be part of your smile journey, and we look forward to continuing to care for you! - Dr. Markus and the MCO Team!
Katie F.
Mill Creek Orthodontics makes getting braces easy and fun. My daughter loves the ice cream and other swag!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words! We love hearing that your daughter is enjoying her experience with us. We believe orthodontic treatment should feel exciting and positive from start to finish, and we’re so happy the little extras like the ice cream and swag have made visits even more fun for her. Thank you for trusting our team with her smile, we truly appreciate your family being part of our orthodontic family! - Dr. Markus and the MCO Team!
Brigette C.
We brought our daughter here after another office recommended treatment that seemed way more aggressive than necessary. This orthodontist took a much more balanced approach and explained that not every issue needs to be corrected immediately. That honesty made us trust them right away. The assistants are very good with nervous kids and keep conversations light so appointments don’t feel intimidating. My daughter was terrified before getting braces, but by the end of the visit she was surprisingly relaxed. There was one small issue where a bracket came loose after she bit into hard candy, but the office got us scheduled quickly without making us feel judged about it. After several months, her smile is already much straighter and she’s noticeably more confident around classmates and relatives.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing this thoughtful feedback. We’re really glad you felt confident in our more balanced approach and that taking the time to explain everything helped you feel comfortable with your daughter’s treatment plan. It’s also wonderful to hear she has felt more at ease during her visits, our team works hard to make sure kids feel calm and supported every step of the way. We’re happy we could quickly help with the bracket issue as well and keep things on track without added stress. Most of all, we love hearing about her growing confidence and progress. Thank you again for trusting us with her smile, and we truly appreciate your family being part of our practice. - Dr. Markus and the MCO Team!
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Limited Indulgence: Enjoying Sweet Treats with Braces & Invisalign

While it's important to avoid sugary foods and sticky treats with braces and Invisalign, it's okay to have a limited indulgence every now and then. Opt for soft, sweet treats that won't damage your orthodontic appliances, such as a small piece of chocolate or a scoop of ice cream. Just remember to brush and floss afterward to prevent any potential issues.

By allowing yourself the occasional sweet treat, you can satisfy your cravings without jeopardizing your orthodontic treatment. Just be mindful of the frequency and portion size of your indulgences, and practice good oral hygiene to keep your teeth and braces or Invisalign clear aligners in good shape.

Maintaining Healthy Habits: Tips for Eating Well with Braces & Invisalign

Aside from avoiding certain foods, it's important to maintain a healthy diet while wearing braces or Invisalign. Be sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains in your meals to support overall oral health and well-being. Additionally, drinking plenty of water can help keep your mouth clean and hydrated throughout the day.

By focusing on a balanced diet and staying hydrated, you can support the success of your orthodontic treatment and maintain a healthy smile. Remember to continue following your orthodontist's recommendations and practicing good oral hygiene habits to ensure optimal results and a beautiful, confident smile.