Is it ok to drink ice-cold water while the aligners are in?

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#1 Post by **leevshan** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:13 pm

I read somewhere about not to drink hot liquid, as it may warps the aligners. But never mentioned about ice-cold water. So, is it ok?

#2 Post by **Phantom Muse** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:10 pm

I don't drink ice water all that often, but I also don't shy away from it. I can't imagine it is a bad thing!

In fact, my ortho said hot tea was okay as long as it wasn't blistering hot (which would make the tea too hot to drink anyway).

#3 Post by **leevshan** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:36 am

Hehe, I've never had hot drinks with the aligners in, too scared the aligners might warp.
Do you feel the aligners tighten a bit when drinking ice water? I thought I felt that last time. Now I always try to drink just cool water.

#4 Post by **Phantom Muse** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:50 pm

I've never noticed them feeling tighter when drinking ice water... Now you've got me thinking; I'll pay attention next time!

#5 Post by **Bellalalala** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:22 pm

I doubt cold would have much effect on them other than to make them transiently stiffer.

I'm sure most people already know this, but the difference is that heat makes plastic less firm, and under the pressures that the alingers are designed to apply, combined with the incredibly powerful pressure of your jaw, the aligner can be deformed while softened by the heat and then re-harden in a new conformation.

The cold will only serve to make the aligner less flexible, so it won't change shape at all.

#6 Post by **myhollywoodsmile** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 4:30 am

I'm convinced iced water makes them tighter too- although what I really mean is that they feel less flexible

#7 Post by **johnnyk** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 3:15 am

I drink icey water all the time with my trays in! Water tastes better chilled

#8 Post by **louw27** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 1:14 pm

I drink everything with them in - tea and coffee (although I let it cool a bit), red wine, beer, etc.