Using mouthwash?

Message

#1 Post by **PAH9** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 2:18 pm

I'm getting my Invisalign put in in a few weeks and currently drink quite a lot of coffee during my working day and thought it might be a pain to have to take them out to go and brush all the time after drinking.

Do people reckon that it might be okay to drink my coffee through a straw then rinse my mouth with mouthwash afterwards? Or what about just after I'd had a few beers in a pub?

What do people think about using mouthwash as a quick, occasional alternative to brushing in general? I have seen people talk about chewing gum and water as quick, occasional alternatives to brushing while out and about, though not much about mouthwash instead. Also, might it be okay to rinse with it while still having the Invisalign in your mouth?

Thanks a lot!

#2 Post by **Phantom Muse** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:50 pm

It is best to not eat or drink anything (other than water) while wearing Invisalign. It's a lifestyle adjustment, but it's the only way to minimize any chance of decay from having stuff stuck onto your teeth and then sealed there with the trays. Also, various foods and beverages can stain the aligners...

I think it is just easier to pop out the aligners when you eat and drink. If you don't get enough hours wearing an aligner each day (22 is the target), you can add additional days onto wearing each set of trays. It's certainly not ideal, but I'd hate to end up with cavities after going through this process.

On the rare occasions I can't brush before putting my trays back in, I do rinse with a lot of water and then brush as soon as possible thereafter.

#3 Post by **ChicagoJohn** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:57 pm

You'll notice that when you drink liquids with your aligners in, whatever it is that you're drinking gets inside of the aligners no matter how hard you try. If it's anything but a clear liquid, it will be noticeable. I do drink beer and white wine sometimes with my aligners in but I swish with water between every few sips to keep clearing things out as much as possible without taking the aligners out. I make sure to take them out when I'm done though and brush or rinse well with water. I don't drink coffee with them in at all because even with a straw it still manages to get into the aligners and I'm scared that it will stain my teeth. It was just a sacrifice that I had to make when I started Invisalign. I went from about 4 cups of coffee a day to just one in the morning now. It was hard at first but I got used to it. But man I can't wait for the day when I'm done so that I can resume normal coffee drinking!

#4 Post by **andrea26** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:27 pm

I have been drinking coffee with the aligners in throughout my whole treatment. I am a coffee addict and my ortho actually said it's ok to drink with the aligners in. I obviously rinse my mouth and clean the aligners straight away otherwise my teeth would stain. I must say I haven't had any problems and my teeth went couple of shades whiter while wearing invisalign. I do drink white wine with them aswell. So I think cooled down coffee and a good rinse/clean afterwards is ok.