Are There Restrictions to What I Can Eat While Using Clear Aligners?

Traditional metal braces often come to mind when thinking about straightening your teeth, but they can be clunky and restrictive for adult orthodontic patients. Clear aligners are a subtle, flexible way to straighten your teeth over time. Summit Family Orthodontics offers Invisalign® clear aligners to our patients. Here are some of the benefits of clear aligners along with ways that they’re quite different from traditional metal braces.

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are retainers that are custom-made for your smile and subtly shift your teeth into their proper positioning over time. If you have crooked teeth, overcrowding, or gaps, clear aligners might be the right choice for you. While they don’t address more advanced orthodontic issues in the way that traditional metal braces do, it’s best to consult with the dentists at Summit Family Orthodontics. They'll be able to determine if you’re a candidate for clear aligners.

How Do Clear Aligners Work?

Once you receive your first set of aligners, you’ll pop them over your teeth and wear them for a minimum of 22 hours a day over the next few weeks. Then we'll swap them out for a new set of aligners that will further shift your teeth into their proper positioning. You’ll have frequent checkups with your dentist to ensure that you’re on track to reach your smile goals. It typically takes about a year to eighteen months for your Invisalign aligners to give you a beautiful straight smile.

What About Food Restrictions?

Since clear aligners are removable, you will have much more freedom when it comes to food. That’s right: because clear aligners are completely removable, you don’t have to be extra mindful about what you eat just so that nothing gets stuck in your braces. Of course, it’s best to stay away from sugary and acidic foods and beverages in general to maintain good oral health! Besides having more flexibility with what you eat, being able to remove your aligners makes it much easier to get your teeth thoroughly clean when you brush and floss.

Orthodontics for the Whole Family Dentistry in Littleton, CO

Summit Family Orthodontics can treat the entire family. Orthodontic treatments aren't just for kids and teenagers. Many adults are getting the straighter smile they've always wanted thanks to Invisalign clear aligners. Besides Invisalign, we offer appliances for children to help guide their permanent teeth in place along with traditional braces for those circumstances when clear aligners aren't suitable. Our Littleton, CO office can keep you and your family smiling, no matter what your concerns are. We’ll work with you individually to find a treatment option that’s best for you and your budget.

Contact Us