Getting braces often means adjusting your eating habits. With brackets, bands and wires in your mouth, some foods can be trickier to chew and you’ll need to take care not to damage your orthodontics. But what about when you have clear aligners like Invisalign? Do you need to be as careful with the foods you eat when you’re wearing removable plastic aligners or retainers?
What are dental spacers?
Before we look at eating with clear aligner spacers specifically, let’s cover what spacers are. Dental spacers are small devices that orthodontists place between your teeth to create space for bands, brackets or other appliances to be fitted. They are also sometimes called separators.
There are a few different types of spacers:
– Elastic spacers – These are small, ring-shaped elastic bands that fit snugly between two teeth. They gradually push the teeth apart through steady pressure.
– Spring spacers – These are coiled metal springs that expand over time to create space between teeth.
– Wax spacers – Small pieces of dental wax molded to fit between teeth. As you close your jaw, the wax is gradually compressed to make space.
– Acrylic spacers – Hard plastic pieces custom-made to fit your teeth. They remain in place as a fixed spacer.
Spacers are typically placed for a week or two before braces are fitted. This allows enough room for the metal bands or brackets to be positioned on your teeth. They can cause some mild discomfort, but this is temporary.
Can you eat normally with clear aligner spacers?
Clear aligner spacers are a bit different from traditional orthodontic spacers. When you wear clear aligners like Invisalign, no brackets or bands are cemented to your teeth. Instead, you use a series of removable plastic trays that gradually shift your teeth.
Aligners are changed out for new trays around every 1-2 weeks as your treatment progresses. When it’s time to move onto a new set of aligners, your orthodontist may place small attachments or “buttons” on your teeth to help the trays grip better. Clear aligner spacers are used to make space for these buttons.
The spacers are typically worn for just a few days before you begin wearing the new aligners. They are designed to comfortably create a tiny gap between teeth so the attachments can be placed without the teeth being squeezed too tightly.
So can you eat normally with Invisalign spacers? Thankfully, the answer is yes! Here are some key points about eating with clear aligner spacers:
– They are removable – You can take aligners with spacers out of your mouth to eat, then brush and floss before placing them back in.
– They don’t limit food – Unlike braces, clear aligner spacers don’t place any restrictions on what foods you can eat. You won’t need to avoid sticky, crunchy or hard foods.
– No damage risk – There is no risk of spacers breaking, unlike with braces which can break if you bite into hard or crunchy foods.
– Short term wear – Spacers are only worn for a few days before the new aligners are put in. You won’t have to adapt eating habits long term.
– Mild discomfort at worst – The spacers exert light pressure and may cause sensitivity between teeth, but this is manageable with over-the-counter pain relief if needed.
So in summary, you can essentially continue eating as normal with Invisalign spacers. Just remember to remove them for eating and cleaning your teeth. The only challenge is managing the mild discomfort until your new aligners can be placed.
Tips for managing discomfort from spacers
While spacers don’t limit your diet, some users report increased sensitivity or mild pain while they are worn. Here are some tips to help manage spacer discomfort:
– Take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed to reduce sensitivity.
– Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help relieve soreness between teeth.
– Apply a small ice pack or cold compress to the cheek to numb any pain.
– Avoid eating hard, crunchy or chewy foods which may aggravate the area. Stick to soft foods.
– Adjust how you bite down to avoid putting pressure on the sore teeth.
– Ensure spacers are seated properly and haven’t become displaced, as this can increase pain.
– Use dental wax to cover any sharp areas irritating your mouth.
– Take spacers out at night if recommended by your orthodontist. This gives your teeth a break.
– Make sure to maintain excellent oral hygiene by brushing and flossing carefully after every meal.
The discomfort is temporary and will go away once the new aligners are in place. If pain seems excessive, contact your orthodontist in case the spacers need adjusting or replacing.
Foods to eat with clear aligner spacers
While there are no specific food restrictions with Invisalign spacers, sticking to softer foods can help minimize discomfort while the spacers are in place. Here are some good food choices:
– Soups – Broths, blended soups, puréed vegetable soups. The warmth can be soothing.
– Smoothies – Fruit and vegetable smoothies without seeds or large chunks. Use a blender for a well-purified consistency.
– Yogurt – Plain, Greek or fruit yogurts are soft and cool.
– Oatmeal – Porridge and overnight oats have a gentle texture.
– Mashed potato – Buttery mashed potato can be very soft and comforting.
– Pasta – Well-cooked pasta with sauces can be easily chewed. Avoid very sticky pasta.
– Casseroles – Soft casseroles and baked pasta dishes are ideal.
– Eggs – Scrambled, poached or soft-boiled eggs are a good protein option.
– Cottage cheese – The soft curds and creamy texture work well.
– Mousse – Chocolate, fruit or other mousse desserts just melt in the mouth.
– Ice cream – Cold, smooth ice cream can soothe pain. Don’t use hard cones.
– Milkshakes – Use a straw to drink thick, creamy milkshakes.
– Jello – Wobbly jello is fun to eat and very soft.
– Applesauce – Smooth, sweet applesauce can be swallowed easily.
The key is to stick to foods that require minimal chewing and are soft enough not to irritate your teeth with the spacers.Aim for neutral temperature foods rather than piping hot or icy cold.
Foods to avoid with spacers
While aligner spacers don’t place dietary restrictions, you’ll want to minimize foods that could increase discomfort while wearing them. Here are some foods to consume carefully or avoid completely:
– Hard or crunchy foods – Items like raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, granola and popcorn can irritate the teeth.
– Chewy, sticky foods – Gum, caramel, toffee and dried fruit can stick to spacers and pull on teeth.
– Sharp foods – Foods with points or sharp edges like chips should be avoided.
– Acidic foods – Citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and vinegar may cause sensitivity.
– Spicy foods – Chili peppers and sauces can further irritate the gums.
– Hard bread – Biting into crispy bread or toast takes force on the teeth. Choose soft bread.
– Tough meats – Steak, pork chops and other meats requiring lots of chewing should be avoided.
– Crusty foods – Pizza crust, pastry crusts and tacos may be too hard to bite through.
– Hard candies – Sucking on hard candy puts pressure between teeth over time.
– Ice – Chewing ice cubes or popsicles could damage spacers.
While you *can* eat all these foods with spacers in, you’ll be much more comfortable sticking to softer options. Take your aligners out, and be very gentle when chewing anything hard or crunchy during this period.
Proper eating habits with aligners
Once your new aligners are placed after the spacers have done their work, you’ll need to adapt your mealtime habits to protect the trays. Follow these tips:
– Always remove aligners before eating. Food debris can damage them if left in your mouth while eating.
– Brush and floss after meals before replacing aligners. Good hygiene prevents staining and odor.
– Rinse aligners before reinserting. Use cool water to wash away saliva or particles.
– Avoid sugary and acidic drinks like soda, juices or sports beverages. They promote decay around aligners.
– Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep aligners in place.
– Chew carefully with your back teeth and cut food into small pieces. Don’t bite into whole apples!
– Be cautious with hard, chewy, crunchy and sticky foods that could pull on aligners.
– Carefully remove aligners for snacks. Don’t keep them in for nibbling or sipping over long periods.
– Clean aligners daily with a specialized aligner cleaner, not regular toothpaste.
Following these simple precautions will help keep your aligners clean, fresh and functioning properly throughout your treatment.
Conclusion
The good news is that Invisalign spacers place no real restrictions on what foods you can enjoy. While they may cause some mild discomfort as they push your teeth apart, you can essentially continue eating as normal during the short time spacers are worn.
Focus on soft, mild foods to make eating more comfortable while your spacers are in place. Hot soups, smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs are excellent options. Avoid very hard, crunchy, chewy or acidic foods which could aggravate sensitivity.
Once your new set of aligners is in place, continue practicing good eating habits to protect them. Always remove aligners for meals and snacks, brush and floss carefully, and be cautious with foods that could potentially damage the plastic. With a little extra care around mealtimes, you’ll be able to progress through treatment without issues.
