Can you chew gum with Invisalign? If you are considering undergoing Invisalign treatment to correct your smile, you would probably like to know the answer to this question.
The answer to this question is probably not what you were hoping to hear, but there is a very good reason for it.
When you start wearing your first pair of aligners, you will have to change several habits and adapt to a slightly different way of life for the duration of your treatment. Adapting may seem bothersome for a few days, but after the initial struggle you will no doubt settle in and realise that the small sacrifice of convenient is well worth making on the way to a straighter, healthier and more attractive smile.
Why chewing gum with Invisalign trays in is a bad idea
Yes, that’s right. Chewing gum while wearing your clear aligner trays is a bad idea.
Why exactly is this? The short and simple answer is that clear aligners – whether we are talking Invisalign or any other brand currently on the market – are not designed or built to be able to withstand the wear and tear of biting and chewing. The material that Invisalign aligner trays are made from is sturdy, but there is a clearly defined limit to the kind of pressure it is able to hold up against. On top of this, gum chewing comes with the added risk of distorting the shape of your Invisalign trays by pilling them in the wrong direction. This can ultimately mess with the results of your orthodontic treatment or at the very least prolong treatment.
One of the common inconveniences that people experience while undergoing their Invisalign teeth straightening treatment is that their aligners crack or snap. This typically happens while removing or inserting the aligners, as a result of teeth grinding at night, or if the Invisalign patient eats or chews gum while wearing their clear braces.
How to chew gum with Invisalign anyway
Fortunately, there is a loop hole that will allow you to still chew gum – as well as enjoy all of the beverages and foods you love – while undergoing your clear aligner treatment. It’s simply this: Invisalign only have to be worn 22 hours out of every 24. In other words, you are allowed to remove your clear aligner trays for a few hours a day, and during this time you are able to chew gum, eat foods and candy, enjoy hot beverages and so forth and so on.
You have two to four hours out of every 24 where you do not have to wear your clear aligners. Use them to satiate your hunger and desire for things like chewing gum. If you can, stick to chewing sugar free gum sweetened with a sugar alternative like xylitol or sorbitol.
After eating, drinking and chewing gum, floss and brush your teeth and put your aligner trays back in your mouth. What is important is that you do not chew gum, eat or drink anything other than water the rest of the time when your clear aligner trays are in.
In the beginning, this is going to take a bit of getting used to. Normally, of course, you are used to eating and drinking what you like, and while you will not have to sacrifice any of your favorite snacks while wearing Invisalign, you are going to have to be more mindful about when you consume them.
A note on chewing gum with traditional metal braces
If you thought that wearing traditional braces would allow you to chew gum while undergoing your teeth straightening treatment you are sorely mistaken.
in fact, wearing braces is much more restrictive overall than wearing Invisalign clear aligners.
Orthodontists recommend that you avoid a whole host of different foods and drinks while wearing braces. These include gum, hard candy, tough meat and fish, spicy foods, sugary and sticky foods as well as all raw fruits and vegetables.
FAQ
Can you chew gum with a clear retainer?
Whether you are wearing Invisalign or clear aligners from any other clear braces provider, you should not chew gum while wearing your aligner trays or retainer.
The simple explanation for this is that clear retainers are not built for chewing.
Sturdy though the clear plastic they are made of is, it is simply not strong enough to reliably be able to withstand the wear and tear caused by biting and chewing. What’s more, chewing gum in particular may distort the shape of the retainer, so that it no longer fits properly, which could ultimately lead to distorted results.
How many times a day can you remove Invisalign?
Really and truly, you can remove your Invisalign aligners as many times a day as you please.
However, it is important that you wear your Invisalign trays for at least 20-22 hours out of every 24 hour in order not to compromise your progress and results. For this reason alone, it doesn’t make sense to remove your Invisalign aligners too often. Typically, Invisalign patients only remove their aligners to eat and to brush their teeth while making sure that these activities do not exceed two-four hours per day.
Can I have a mint with Invisalign on?
As long as we are talking about a sugar free mint that you are sucking on rather than chewing, there is no problem – so go right ahead and let yourself have this little treat.
Is 20 hours enough for Invisalign?
Invisalign recommends that their aligner are worn for 22 hours out of every 24 – and for 2o at the very least.
You absolutely do not want to wear your clear Invisalign trays any less than 2o hours a day, or you run the risk of compromising your teeth straightening results. Commit to wearing your clear braces for at least 2o hours a day and no less.
Conclusion
There are lots of things to consider before starting your Invisalign teeth straightening journey. And in the beginning, there will be a lot of new habits to get used to – or to let go of, as the case may be.
If you are someone who is used to regularly chewing gum, letting go of the habit or confining it to the few hours a day where you are not wearing your clear aligner trays can seem like a real challenge. However, we guarantee you that the temporary sacrifice is going to be worth it when you see the incredible results you are able to achieve with the Invisalign treatment.
Besides, chances are that you are going to quickly adapt to wearing your new Invisalign trays. You will still be able to eat all of your favorite foods, enjoy hot drinks, hard candy, soda, and yes, chewing gum too, while undergoing your teeth straightening treatment – so long as you keep these treats to the few hours a day where you are not required to wear your clear aligners.