Eating, Drinking, and Invisalign: The Real Survival Guide

Alright, so you’ve just started Invisalign or you’re thinking about it — maybe you’re eyeing that Invisalign discount London clinics keep throwing around, wondering if it’s worth the plunge.

Let me just say: yes, it’s worth it. But also… buckle up, because eating and drinking with Invisalign is a thing.

Like, I’m not saying it’s a nightmare — you adapt, I promise — but if you’re the kind of person who snacks every 45 minutes or casually sips coffee all day, get ready to make some lifestyle adjustments.

I’ve been on Invisalign for over a year now. I’m nearly done (finally), and I’ve lived through it all — the awkward dinner parties, the forgotten retainer case disasters, the weird moments in public toilets trying to rinse out aligners with one hand and hold my dignity with the other.

So here it is: my honest, no-BS guide to eating and drinking with Invisalign in 2025. If you’re new to it, hopefully this saves you some trouble. If you’re already in the thick of it… I see you.

Table of Contents

1. You Can Only Drink Water with Them In. That’s It.

Look, you’ll see people online saying it’s “probably fine” to sip coffee or wine or whatever with your aligners in. Don’t. Just don’t.

Hot drinks can warp the plastic (yes, warp) and coloured drinks stain the trays — which are already barely visible, but not if you tint them latte beige. The worst part? That smell. You’ll never forget the smell of stale coffee trapped in an aligner.

Trust me, it’s just not worth it. I learned that the hard way. Take them out, drink your drink, then brush up and pop them back in.

2. Spontaneous Snacking? Rethink That.

This was the hardest part for me. I’m a grazer. I like a biscuit here, a crisp there — you know, the fun parts of life. Invisalign made me realise how many little things I put in my mouth without even thinking (yes, that sounded weird, but you know what I mean).

With Invisalign, every snack becomes a whole event:

Take the trays out.
Rinse them.
Eat your thing.
Brush your teeth.
Rinse the trays again.
Put them back in.

Now repeat that four times a day and tell me it’s not exhausting.

I ended up shifting to more structured meals — breakfast, lunch, dinner — and I stopped snacking as much. Weirdly, it helped my digestion. Bonus: I lost a bit of that “WFH snack weight” too.

3. Your Social Life Might Get Awkward for a Minute

Picture this: you’re on a first date. Drinks arrive. You realise you haven’t taken your aligners out. Cue the panic. Do you excuse yourself and awkwardly remove them in the bathroom? Or just power through and risk staining them while sipping a glass of Malbec?

Been there.

Eventually, I just got over the embarrassment. I’d casually say, “Sorry, Invisalign drama,” pop them out, stash them in my case, and move on. People honestly don’t care as much as you think. And if they do? That’s a red flag, mate.

4. Brushing Becomes a Full-Time Job

You’ll want to brush your teeth after everything — otherwise, you trap food bits in your trays, and it is… not nice.

I keep a little pouch in my bag with a travel toothbrush, mini toothpaste, floss picks, and mouthwash. Yes, I feel like a dental scout, but it saves me daily.

There was one week where I didn’t brush after a quick sandwich and popped the trays back in anyway. Two days later, I had the breath of a gremlin and felt gross. Lesson learned.

5. Eat Fast (But Not Too Fast)

The golden rule is: 22 hours of aligner wear per day. That gives you about two hours total for eating and drinking.

This sounds fine until you realise you’ve spent 15 minutes trying to find a clean place to take your trays out and now your lunchtime is basically a speed-eating contest.

I got into the habit of eating a bit quicker and not wasting time scrolling TikTok in between bites. It’s not ideal, but you learn to time things well.

6. Bring Your Case Everywhere

Do not — I repeat, do not — wrap your trays in a napkin.

You will throw them away. Everyone does it at least once. I did it at a pub in Soho. Never found them again. Worst part? That was my final tray.

I now carry my case everywhere like it’s my second phone. You can get cute ones online, or some dentists (like Chatfield Dental Braces, who I went with) will give you a decent one included in their package. Side note: if you’re hunting for the best Invisalign discount in London, definitely check them out. Their Invisalign treatment discount in London saved me a chunk, and their aftercare is actually solid.

7. Be Kind to Yourself

Look, Invisalign is amazing — your teeth will look great, you’ll feel more confident, and it’s way more discreet than braces. But it does take getting used to.

You’re going to have days where you forget to wear them long enough or you lose a tray or you just want to eat crisps at 11pm without brushing. It’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up. Just do your best and get back on track the next day.

The results are so worth it. But you don’t have to be perfect to get there.

Bonus Tip: Shop Around, but Don’t Just Go for the Cheapest Deal

I saw loads of sketchy ads when I first searched for Invisalign. Clinics promising £1,200 treatment plans, but you had to pay extra for literally everything. Some didn’t even include retainers or follow-ups.

That’s why I ended up choosing Chatfield Dental Braces — they had one of the best Invisalign discount offers in London, but more importantly, they were upfront about what was included. No dodgy surprises, just a proper treatment plan and a team that actually cared.

Final Thoughts

Eating and drinking with Invisalign isn’t hard, it’s just… a shift. You learn. You adapt. You get really, really good at brushing your teeth in random places. And you find ways to make it work — whether that means meal planning more or just embracing being that person who pulls a retainer case out of their bag at brunch.

If you’re just starting your Invisalign journey (or thinking about it), don’t stress too much. It gets easier. And if you’re in London and still trying to find a good deal, Chatfield Dental Braces is worth checking out. Their Invisalign discount London deal is what got me through the door, but the care is what kept me there.

Anyway, time to go clean my trays and resist the urge to snack on cheese. Again.