Invisalign is a popular teeth straightening treatment these days. They are clear aligners, so not visible to the public. And you can remove them and eat anything you want. You can wear them again post-meal after cleaning your teeth thoroughly. They are not embarrassing and uncomfortable like traditional metal braces. And they are not as painful either.
However, providing Invisalign treatment to a patient with smoking habits becomes challenging for the orthodontist. If you are a smoker and want to get Invisalign braces, you need to be aware of certain things. In the upcoming sections, we will answer basic queries regarding smoking with Invisalign treatment based on our clinical practice at Brite Orthodontics in Rome, New York.
Is It Ideal to Treat A Smoker With Invisalign?
It depends on the intensity of the habit. Suppose you smoke less and only occasionally then Invisalign treatment will not be much complicated for you. But if you are a chain smoker, the orthodontists will think twice before suggesting Invisalign. But whatever the case, you can get the correct answer from your orthodontist only.
Can You Smoke With Invisalign?
No. You shouldn’t! If you smoke with Invisalign aligners, nicotine and other chemicals can harm the structure of Invisalign. It can cause various oral health issues apart from decreasing the effectiveness of your treatment.
What Are the Consequences of Smoking With Invisalign Treatment?
Smoking can affect the Invisalign treatment in the following ways:-
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Stains on Clear Aligners
The reason for you going for Invisalign treatment is the clear aligner trays. These trays keep your treatment away from the public eye. Smoking can cause the aligners to stain. This will make your tray visible. Are you now thinking that what if I remove the trays before smoking? Nope! It doesn’t solve the purpose! The remains of tar and nicotine from the smoking are enough to discolor the tray.
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Trapped Nicotine & Tobacco in Teeth
People think it is harmless to remove the Invisalign tray before smoking and wear it again after brushing and flossing. But you should know that the remains of the tar, nicotine, tobacco and other harmful chemicals of the cigarettes can create havoc in your teeth. The trapped nicotine and tobacco can become the reason for teeth discoloration, enamel erosion, gum disease, etc.
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Decay of Teeth
If you smoke with Invisalign retainers, you may invite this most undesirable side effect.
If any particle of tobacco gets trapped in your teeth, it remains there for a more extended period. During that time, the trapped layer of tobacco gets enough opportunity to cause tooth decay. Tooth decay will not only affect the treatment. It might require you to go back to square one. You will need to treat your tooth decay and then start with the Invisalign treatment again.
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Prolonged Treatment
If you are a heavy smoker, you will often remove Invisalign to smoke. This will interfere with the healing. Invisalign needs to be worn for at least 20-22 hours per day. That is the prerequisite to get the desired result. But due to frequent smoking, you might end up wearing them for less time. Because you need to remove them during eating and drinking as well. This will prolong the duration of treatment.
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Poor Oral Health
Tobacco products like cigars, chewing tobacco, and cigarettes harm your overall dental health. If you indulge in smoking often, you endure the risk of teeth decay, gum diseases, and even oral cancer. If you smoke with Invisalign aligners, you risk treatment failure. It would be best if you quit smoking entirely for your overall wellbeing and dental health. Invisalign can be an opportunity for you to get rid of this bad habit.
Is There a Way to Continue Smoking With Invisalign Treatment?
It is not at all recommended to smoke during Invisalign treatment. But if you can’t control your urge, the best you can do is remove aligners at the time of smoking. Wear them again after brushing and flossing your teeth. Remains of tobacco in your teeth can be dangerous. You can schedule smoking around your mealtime.
Secondly, you need to reduce the number of times you smoke in a day. Because aligners need to be attached to your teeth for at least 20-22 hours. Frequent smoking will create a hindrance. Remember, these are not the guaranteed ways of not facing side effects. You may still encounter issues like staining of aligners, bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, etc.
Key Takeaway!
Generally, orthodontists suggest stopping smoking a few weeks before starting the treatment to make it easy for you during the treatment.
If you plan to get orthodontic treatment and have questions about it, feel free to call Brite Orthodontics today. We provide all sorts of orthodontic solutions, for both smokers and non-smokers.
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