10 Best Foods to Eat with Invisalign

One of the best things about Invisalign? You don’t have to worry about what you can or cannot eat. Because you can remove your plastic aligners, eat your meal or snack, clean your teeth, and then put your aligners back in, you do not have to worry about eating things that could harm your aligners like you have to worry about eating things that could harm braces. That said, there are some foods that are just going to be better for teeth than other types of food. Here are ten of the best foods to eat with Invisalign that will promote the health of your teeth.

1. Cheese

Cheese is rich in calcium and healthy fats, which make it a great option if you are trying to support the health of your teeth. Studies have actually found that not only does cheese provide you with calcium (and the vitamin D that your body needs to properly utilize calcium), but it raises the pH of your mouth, which makes it less hospitable to the bacteria that causes tooth decay. Chewing cheese also increases saliva production, which further protects your teeth. As an added bonus, the protein in cheese helps to strengthen the enamel of your teeth!

2. Yogurt

Yogurt has a lot of the same benefits as cheese, including its high calcium and protein levels. If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast or snack that provides you with calcium, protein, and beneficial bacteria, there is probably no better choice that yogurt. Pick one of the brands that does not add extra sugar to their yogurt, as this can affect the efficacy of the protein and the protective bacteria that are included in yogurt.

3. Apples

Apples might be sweet and high in natural sugar, but they are also full of water and fiber. When you eat an apple, your body produces more saliva, which helps to wash away bacteria and any leftover food particles from your mouth. The texture of the apple itself can actually help to improve the health of your gums and to remove food stuck to your teeth. While eating an apple won’t replace brush your teeth, the texture of the fruit does help to get rid of plaque on your teeth.

4. Carrots

Like apples, carrots have a crunchy texture that helps to clear away food particles and plaque that might be on your teeth. It also encourages the mouth to produce saliva, making it even cleaner. It’s got fiber, too, which is incredibly important when it comes to keeping your entire body healthy. Because carrots are high in vitamin A, they are necessary for maintaining the health of your eyes and skin. If you like carrots, a few baby carrots make a great, filling snack!

5. Leafy greens

Greens can help you keep your teeth health? Most leafy greens, especially those with darker colors like spinach and kale, are actually packed with the minerals and vitamins that your body needs to help keep its bones strong (and your teeth are bones). Most leafy greens are also extremely high in calcium, which your body needs to build healthy enamel. If you’re not a fan of leafy greens, you could try hiding it in a smoothie or eating baby spinach with your salad instead of just iceberg.

6. Almonds

If you don’t like dairy or are allergic to it, you might want to add more almonds to your diet. They provide you with the calcium you need, along with a good amount of protein, without any of the lactose or the fat that often comes along with drinking milk or eating dairy products. The crunch of the almonds, like most other crunch foods, can actually help you protect your teeth from plaque growth.

7. Celery

Celery might not be anyone’s favorite vegetable and it might be a little bland at times, but it has the perfect texture and water content to make it great for your teeth. It is filled with vitamins (including A and C, both of which are good for your gums), and the texture helps to clear away food particles and anything else that might have been sticking to your teeth.

8. Cucumbers

Like celery, cucumbers might lack a little bit of flavor, but the chewing motion that you make to eat them is actually great for your teeth and their high water content hydrates the mouth as you eat. Raw cucumbers are a great crunchy alternative to eating crackers or chips as a snack.

9. Berries

Dark berries might be rich in dark juice that can stain your teeth if you are not careful, but they are also high in vitamins and minerals that your mouth needs in order to be healthy. They actually contain a compound that could make it difficult for plaque to attach to teeth, along with the normal set of antioxidants and vitamins that keep your body healthy in general.

10. Onions

Onions actually contain antibacterial properties that can help to kill off the bacteria that might be breeding in your mouth. If you want to avoid cavities and gum disease, adding onions to your diet on a more regular basis might be the perfect solution. They might not be as sweet as berries and they might make your breath smell, but the ability to clean your mouth is a huge benefit that makes onions worth your time.

These are only a few of the best foods to eat with Invisalign. Anything that is rich in calcium and protein will help to promote the health of your teeth!