I’ve been wearing aligners for about two weeks now, and I swear my food doesn’t taste the same. Is this normal? I feel like my sense of taste is dulled, and everything just tastes off. Anyone else experience this? I miss enjoying my meals like I used to!
Yes! I thought it was just me. When I first got aligners, I noticed the same thing. It was like food had this weird aftertaste, and some things just didn’t taste as strong. I mentioned it to my orthodontist, and they said it’s common because the aligners are covering your teeth, which can mess with the way you experience taste. It got better for me after a few weeks, though. Hopefully, it’s temporary for you too!
Everything tastes kind of bland with the aligners in, especially if I’m eating something really flavorful like spicy food or chocolate. I think it has to do with how the trays cover your teeth and gums, like it blocks some of the taste receptors or something. I’ve been taking them out during meals when possible because I want to enjoy my food properly!
I haven’t had any major taste issues, but I do feel like certain foods, especially sweet things, taste a little different. It’s not horrible, but it’s definitely noticeable. I find that brushing my teeth or rinsing with water before putting my aligners back in helps get rid of that weird taste they sometimes leave in my mouth. Anyone else notice that aftertaste from the trays?
I actually asked my orthodontist about this because I felt like I wasn’t enjoying food as much with my aligners in. They explained that the aligners can slightly reduce your sense of taste, especially for foods with strong flavors. It’s because they create a barrier between your taste buds and the food, but it shouldn’t last forever. My advice would be to just take them out when you eat if it’s really bothering you. I do that when I want to fully enjoy a meal.
Yes, the aftertaste from the aligners is real! I noticed that too, and at first, I thought it was just my mouth adjusting to them. Certain foods taste kind of dull, but it’s gotten better as I’ve gotten used to wearing them. I try to make sure I clean the trays really well to avoid that gross taste. I also agree that rinsing before and after meals helps a lot.
I haven’t noticed a huge difference in how things taste, but now that I’m reading this, I’m wondering if I’ve just gotten used to it. The first few days, I did think everything tasted kind of bland, but I brushed it off as just getting used to the aligners. Now I barely notice, but maybe I’ve just adapted? Does it eventually go away for everyone?
I definitely feel like my sense of taste is affected with the aligners in. It’s like I can taste the plastic more than the food sometimes, which is gross. I’ve started taking them out during meals for that reason. I was worried it would slow down my treatment, but my orthodontist said as long as I wear them for 22 hours a day, I should be fine. I’d rather take them out to enjoy my food than suffer through a tasteless meal.
I haven’t had any major issues with taste, but I have noticed that certain textures feel weird with the aligners in. Like, crunchy foods don’t feel as satisfying, if that makes sense? I wonder if that’s connected to taste in some way. I try to keep my aligners clean, but the feeling is still there. Maybe it’s just something we have to get used to while wearing them?
Food definitely doesn’t taste the same with the aligners in, and sometimes I feel like the trays make my mouth feel weird after eating. I’ve been taking them out during meals, but I hate how annoying it is to keep brushing my teeth every time I eat something. It’s definitely a trade-off, but I guess it’s worth it for straighter teeth.
This thread makes me feel so much better! I thought I was the only one who noticed a change in taste. Everything tasted a little plasticky for me when I first started wearing aligners, and I couldn’t figure out why. Now I realize it’s just the trays. It’s not as bad now, but I still take them out when I really want to enjoy a meal. It’s such a strange side effect, but I guess it makes sense since the trays are in your mouth all day.