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How To Have A Night Out With Invisalign

If you’re currently wearing Invisalign to straighten your teeth but love a night out, be that dinner with friends or a night of partying, you may be wondering how you can enjoy your night without spoiling your treatment. Here at Smile Stories, we are experts in Invisalign in Bournemouth and we get asked that question a lot! 

The good news is that you can still have your nights out whilst wearing Invisalign as long as you take a few precautionary steps.

Here are our expert tips on how to have a night out with Invisalign. 

The Important Thing To Remember On A Night Out With Invisalign

It’s important to remember that for your treatment to be successful and in the time frame indicated in your treatment plan you need to wear your Invisalign aligners for 22 hours a day. 

Unless you’re eating or drinking hot or sugary drinks you can keep wearing your aligners. Bear in mind, drinks like cider and wine are full of sugar.

If you take your Invisalign out multiple times a week to go partying your treatment isn’t going to be as effective as it could be – but with a little planning, you can have Invisalign and your night out.

Top Tips For Having A Night Out With Invisalign

Whether you’re going for dinner and a quick drink, clubbing or ten pints and a curry your night out with Invisalign will be a success providing you plan ahead.

Plan what drinks are best and remember to pack your aligner case, toothbrush, toothpaste and floss and your night on the town with Invisalign will be a huge success.

Remove Your Aligners When Eating 

If you go for dinner or grab a kebab on your way home remember to take your aligners out before you eat. 

If you forget to remove them you risk damaging the aligners as they are not designed to withstand the powerful force of chewing food.

Take Your Invisalign Aligner Case

Make sure you take your storage case with you. That way you can pop your aligners in the case when you take them out to eat. 

Take a Toothbrush, Toothpaste and Floss

Make sure to take a toothbrush and toothpaste with you so you can clean your teeth before putting your aligners back in. Travel toothbrushes and toothpaste are easily squeezed into jeans and coat pockets or a small clutch bag. 

Drinking On A Night Out With Invisalign

You’ll be pleased to hear that you can drink with Invisalign but there are some drinks that you should avoid whilst wearing them.

Avoid Dark Drinks

Invisalign aligners are clear, they’re almost invisible – that’s one of the great things about them.  Unfortunately, they do stain quite easily. Drinks like red wine, beer, and colourful alcopops will make your aligners look dirty, and not quite so invisible.

If you want your aligners to remain almost invisible, stick to clear drinks like white wine, vodka or gin on your night out.

Avoid Sugary Drinks

Alcopops, cider and mixers contain high quantities of sugar which can cause tooth decay. When you drink sugary drinks whilst wearing Invisalign the sugar gets trapped behind them increasing the likelihood of cavities.

Diet and zero-sugar drinks containing artificial sweeteners are less likely to cause decay but they are acidic (see note below) so you should try to limit your intake of these as well.

Avoid Carbonated Mixers

Mixers tend to be sugary and acidic. Whilst the sugar causes decay the acidity causes erosion.  The acidic fluid can get trapped behind the aligners for your whole night out causing erosion of the teeth underneath. This can cause them to become sensitive to hot, cold or sweet foods and drinks. It may also mean that you need dental treatments such as fillings, veneers or even crowns.

Sip Water

As well as being a great way of keeping you hydrated and your hangover at bay (yes it really does work) sipping water helps to rinse alcohol, sugar and residue from your aligners.  this will help prevent decay, erosion and aligner staining.

Drink Through A Straw

Drinking through a straw is a great way to keep sugary and acidic mixers away from your teeth. Make sure you pop the straw right into your mouth. If the straw is just inside the lips, the sugary and acidic fluids will still get on the teeth. 

Smoking, Invisalign And Your Night Out

Smoking (and vaping) may stain your clear aligners, and it puts you at greater risk of gingivitis and periodontitis (gum diseases – which can make your teeth fall out) so it’s not advised you smoke whilst straightening your teeth with Invisalign.  It’s also not great for your general health. However, if you do smoke when on a night out, other than having a negative effect on your oral health it won’t affect your treatment plan. 

Kissing With Aligners

Don’t worry, if you happen to pull the boy/girl of your dreams you can still get on with life. You might want to tell them first or it might be a bit of a surprise. 

Chewing Gum

A lot of people chew gum on a night out to freshen their breath. Unfortunately, just like eating you can’t chew gum whilst wearing Invisalign. If you want to freshen your breath give your teeth and aligners a clean with the toothbrush and toothpaste you’ve taken out with you.

What To Do When You Get Home From Your Night Out

Once home from your night out, don’t just fall into bed – have a big glass of water, give your aligners and your teeth a really good clean (yes, we know it’s hard to be bothered or care after a good night out but it’s really important) and pop your aligners back in.

What To Do The Morning After The Night Before 

Give your teeth and aligners a super good clean, this will remove any sugar and residue you may have missed when you got home.

If your aligners are looking a little stained and dirty treat them to a wash in retainer brite and they will sparkle again. 

Nights Out With Invisalign Can Be A Success

Nights out with Invisalign can be just as much fun as nights out before Invisalign if you plan ahead and take a few precautionary steps. 

Remember to take them out when eating and stick to clear liquids that won’t stain your aligners. Sipping water throughout the night and cleaning your teeth at regular intervals throughout the night will help keep your mouth fresh, teeth healthy and aligners clean and clear. 

FAQ’s

Can You Go On A Night Out With Invisalign?

Yes, you can still go on a night out with Invisalign. Just follow the advice above to ensure your treatment is effective.

Can I Skip Aligners For A Night Out?

No, don’t skip aligners for a night out. It’s important to wear your aligners for 22 hours every day. If you take your aligners out for 1 or more nights out a week you will slow your treatment down, your teeth will take longer to straighten.

I Lost My Aligners On A Night Out – What Should I Do?

If you lose your aligners on a night out, don’t worry pop the previous pair in and contact your Invisalign expert for advice. Don’t use a new pair as your teeth won’t be ready for them yet. 

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