US Trends

can you drink alcohol with invisalign

You can drink alcohol while you’re doing Invisalign treatment, but you should not drink it with the aligners in your mouth.

Quick Scoop

  • Take Invisalign trays out before any alcoholic drink (beer, wine, cocktails, seltzers, etc.).
  • Only plain, cool water is truly safe to drink with aligners in.
  • Put trays back in only after you’ve rinsed (ideally brushed) your teeth and rinsed the aligners.
  • Dark, sugary, or acidic drinks (red wine, cola, cider, cocktails) are hardest on your teeth and your trays.

Why alcohol + Invisalign don’t mix well

  • Staining and smell
    • Red wine, dark beer, coloured cocktails can tint the trays and make them look yellow or pink instead of clear.
* Sugar and acids trapped under the trays feed bacteria, which can cause bad breath and plaque.
  • Tooth and tray damage
    • Sugary and acidic drinks increase risk of decay and enamel erosion when they sit against teeth under aligners.
* Hot drinks (mulled wine, hot toddies) can warp the plastic and affect how well the trays fit.

“Can I just sip?” (Straws, clear drinks, etc.)

People often try “workarounds,” but they’re not risk‑free:

  • Clear alcohol (vodka soda, gin and tonic, white wine)
    • Less likely to visibly stain trays, but the sugar and acids still get trapped and can cause decay.
  • Using a straw
    • Can reduce contact with the front of the trays but doesn’t stop liquid seeping underneath them onto your teeth.

So even with clear drinks or straws, aligners off is still the safest rule.

How to drink alcohol “smart” with Invisalign

When you’re out or at a party, this is the simple routine most dentists recommend:

  1. Pop your aligners out and store them in the case (not in a napkin or pocket).
  1. Have your drink(s); try to keep the total “aligners out” time under the recommended daily wear (usually 20–22 hours).
  1. Before trays go back in:
    • Best: brush your teeth and give the aligners a gentle clean or rinse.
 * Minimum: rinse your mouth well with water and rinse the aligners.
  1. Avoid falling asleep after drinking with trays out or with sugary/alcoholic residue on your teeth.

If you drink very frequently and often leave trays out for long stretches, treatment can slow down or your aligners may not fit as planned.

Best and worst drink choices

  • “Safer” choices with aligners out , then brushing/rinsing:
    • Clear spirits with low‑sugar mixers (vodka soda, gin with soda water)
    • Dry white wine or light beer in moderation
  • Higher‑risk choices (need extra care afterward):
    • Red wine, dark beer, coloured cocktails, sugary ciders, energy drinks
    • Any hot alcoholic drink (hot toddy, mulled wine)

Bottom line: Yes, you can drink alcohol during Invisalign treatment, but take the trays out first, clean up before putting them back in, and try not to sacrifice your 20–22 hours of wear time each day.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.