Can You Drink Sparkling Water with Aligners?

Starting your journey to a straighter smile with ALIGNERCO’s clear aligners is an exciting process! As you adjust to wearing them daily, you may have questions, especially about what you can drink. A common concern is whether you can drink sparkling water with aligners.

While sparkling water itself isn't harmful, it's important to remember that acidic or sugary beverages should be avoided to protect your teeth and aligners. We'll provide you with some guidelines for enjoying drinks while achieving your desired smile, ensuring you maintain your oral health throughout your treatment.

Understanding Sparkling Water

Sparkling water, also known as carbonated water, is simply water with carbon dioxide gas added to it under pressure. The result is the bubbly or fizzy feeling that we love. It's typically considered a healthier beverage than soda, because it has little or no sugar and calories. However, even though sparkling water does not seem harmful, it does not mean it is safe for your aligners or teeth.

When carbon dioxide is dissolved in water, it produces carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a weak acid, but it still lowers the pH of the beverage, so it's slightly acidic. Even if the beverage is slightly acidic, the impact of this acidity can still impact your dental health, especially while aligners are in place.

The Effects of Sparkling Water on Your Teeth and Aligners

Wearing aligners creates a snug barrier between your teeth and the environment. This helps in straightening your teeth but also traps substances that come into contact with your mouth. When you drink sparkling water while wearing aligners, you’re essentially trapping an acidic liquid against your teeth.

Here’s what can happen:

• Enamel Erosion: Prolonged exposure to acidic substances can erode tooth enamel. Since the aligners trap the sparkling water, your teeth may remain in contact with the acid for longer than they would without aligners.
• Discoloration: Some sparkling waters, especially those that are flavored, can leave behind residue or stains on your clear aligners. This compromises the "invisible" appeal of your treatment.
• Bacteria Buildup: Acids and flavorings from sparkling water can promote bacterial growth. When left unchecked, this can lead to plaque buildup, bad breath, or even tooth decay.

So, while you might think you’re staying healthy by choosing sparkling water over soda, you could still be compromising your aligner treatment and dental health if you sip it while wearing your trays.

Carbonated Drinks and Aligners: Why It’s Not Worth the Risk

Let’s take a broader look at carbonated drinks in general. Whether it’s soda, tonic water, energy drinks, or sparkling water, these beverages have one thing in common: carbonation. And more often than not, they also contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners, caffeine, food coloring, and acids that can damage teeth.

Drinking carbonated beverages with aligners can lead to:

• Tooth Decay: Sugar or acid left sitting between the aligners and your teeth can eat away at enamel.
• Aligner Damage: Over time, aligners may become cloudy or discolored, making them more noticeable.
• Treatment Delays: If you're constantly removing your aligners to enjoy carbonated drinks and forgetting to wear them for 20-22 hours a day, you may slow down your treatment progress.

ALIGNERCO recommends completely avoiding all carbonated drinks unless your aligners are removed, and you should thoroughly clean your mouth before putting them back in.

Beverage Restrictions with Clear Aligners

When you begin aligner treatment, one of the first things you’ll notice is a change in your eating and drinking habits. Beverage restrictions are part of the process. Besides carbonated drinks, here are other beverages to be cautious of:

• Coffee and Tea: These can stain both your teeth and your aligners. Plus, they are often consumed hot, which could warp your trays.
• Juices and Sports Drinks: Full of sugars and acids, these can also stain aligners and damage teeth.
• Wine and Alcohol: Red wine can stain, and many alcoholic drinks are acidic or sugary.

All of these should be consumed only when your aligners are out, and followed by a rinse or brushing before putting your aligners back in.

What to Drink with Aligners

The safest and best beverage to drink while wearing your aligners is plain, cold, or room-temperature water. That’s it. It might not sound exciting, but it’s the best way to protect your teeth, aligners, and overall progress.

If you're craving something flavorful, try these steps:

• Remove your aligners.
• Enjoy your drink of choice.
• Brush or rinse your mouth.
• Reinsert your aligners.

This ensures minimal impact on both your aligners and your teeth.

Can I Drink Soda with Invisible Aligners?

This question is extremely common, especially for soda lovers. The answer, unfortunately, is no. Whether it’s a regular or diet soda, the combination of acid, sugar, and artificial coloring can wreak havoc on your treatment.

Drinking soda with aligners:

• Causes significant staining
• Accelerates decay
• Reduces the lifespan of your aligners

To enjoy soda without damaging your smile journey, simply remove your aligners first. Just don’t forget to clean your teeth before putting them back in.

Proper care of your aligners can make a huge difference in your treatment experience. Here are some ALIGNERCO-approved tips for keeping your aligners and your smile sparkling:

• Wear aligners 20–22 hours a day: Consistency is key.
• Remove for all meals and drinks (except water): Always!
• Brush and floss before reinserting: Clean teeth are happy teeth.
• Clean aligners daily: Use a soft brush and clean gently. Or you can use ALIGNERCO Aligner Cleaner + Whitener for aligner cleaning.
• Avoid hot water: It can warp your aligners.
• Store them in a case: When not in use, keep them safe from damage or loss.

Best Drinks for Aligner Wearers

Since beverage restrictions can be a bit limiting, here are a few safe and satisfying options you can enjoy during your treatment:

• Plain Water: Always the best choice.
• Infused Water (when aligners are out): Add cucumber, mint, lemon, or berries for a flavor boost.
• Herbal Tea (when cool and aligners are out): Caffeine-free and less likely to stain.

Always remember: Even if a drink is healthy, if it isn’t plain water, it’s best consumed without your aligners in.

Sparkling Water with Aligners: A Yes?

Deciding to straighten your teeth with ALIGNERCO means that you’re taking control of your smile and investing in your future. Small daily habits, like drinking when wearing your aligner, play a huge role in your success! Although it may be tempting to drink sparkling water repeatedly throughout the day, it is a little risky to wear your aligners while drinking it.

Keep it simple and remove your aligners when drinking anything but water, rinse your mouth, and make sure to continue your wear time of 20-22 hours daily! Your future self will thank you when you see your beautiful, confident smile at the end of your ALIGNERCO journey.