There’s a reason why intermittent fasting (IF) is a common search term alongside Invisalign.
Most clear aligner treatments – including Invisalign – require candidates to wear their trays for 22+ hours per day for optimal results.
Yet, clear aligner candidates are advised to remove their trays before eating and drinking anything other than cold water. Meaning most days really are some sort of fasting.
This raises concerns for the majority of candidates who are hesitant to make such drastic changes. But the truth is, that people can still succeed with wearing clear aligners, despite having to give up everything surrounding food.
This Post Will Cover:
1) Intermittent fasting at a glance and how it relates to Invisalign
2) The risks of strict fasting throughout an Invisalign program
3) A better way to manage any food restrictions and shortened eating windows during your course of treatment
Let’s dive in.
Clear Aligner Programs Influence Your Eating Habits
In short, intermittent fasting means having a “non-eating” window for a set period of hours (daily or weekly). This type of time-restricted fasting can be as simple as an on/off schedule where permitting food in one’s diet is on a continuous loop.
One of the drawbacks with intermittent fasting is that you’re tempted to stack all of your meals into one sitting. Which encourages binge eating and future overindulgences when having to turn down food outside of the allotted eating window.
A fraction of Invisalign patients may follow a 12-hour pattern of this rule by not eating anything more after dinner. Although, it’s increasingly common for clear aligner wearers to become disinterested in food entirely.
Reasons include: discomfort/pain from tray removals, the underlying pressure of maintaining 22 hours of daily wear time, demanding work/school schedules, and, believe it or not, feeling insecure or embarrassed with the appearance of their smile without clear aligners.
Meal time for Invisalign wearers brings bouts of emotions and choosing when to eat doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. Fortunately, there are meal plans and snack solutions to help these individuals structure their days in advance.
Invisalign Fasting Isn’t Sustainable Long-Term
Twenty-two hours of wear time only leaves clear aligner patients around 120 minutes to eat (with enough wiggle room for brushing and flossing). So it’s clear that fasting to a certain degree with Invisalign is expected – especially when grazing and snacking are considered.
However, skipping too many meals or neglecting food-derived vitamins and minerals can pose serious health concerns. Disordered eating is also an area of concern when over-fasting with Invisalign isn’t addressed or treated.
Prolonged calorie deficits can cause excessive weight loss, malnutrition, and sleeping problems, therefore Invisalign patients should always seek a second opinion from a medical professional before making a drastic change to their eating habits.
The 10-45-45 Approach Explained
Another proven system that could support someone with their 22-hour wear schedule is the 10-45-45 approach. It combines the three major meals of the day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and a set cleaning schedule to maintain proper oral hygiene.
The 10-45-45 approach allows wiggle room for small snacks because you can easily tack them onto your eating windows for the day. It doesn’t eliminate any food groups because it’s a scheduled meal routine and not a diet like intermittent fasting.
This method has helped hundreds of Invisalign patients and it can be the answer for you, too.
Recap
Over the years, our society has been toying with the idea of intermittent fasting (IF).
But is intermittent fasting your only option when completing an Invisalign program? No… and take our word for it.
Well+Aligned by NutrishMe was developed by Dana M. Goldberg (Nutrition consultant, wellness specialist, and clear aligner coach).
Her #1 goal is to help serve busy adults with the support they need throughout, during, and after their Invisalign journey. The 10-45-45 approach is a reliable solution to managing the intimating 2-hour clear aligner eating window without the added stress (or health concerns) linked to an intermittent fasting diet.
Check out the Well+Aligned resources page and sign up below to learn what the 10-45-45 approach is all about.