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Clear aligners are the rage for many individuals that want to straighten their teeth. This is because they provide the same benefits as traditional braces without being as visible. Additionally, they have a smaller chance of causing irritation because they don’t have brackets and wires.
Invisalign, the most popular clear aligner, is a great choice for anyone. That said, there are certain complications for anyone who smokes. It should be noted that you can smoke while undergoing Invisalign treatment, but dentists advise against it.
Effects of Smoking on Invisalign Treatment
- If you smoke with the Invisalign on, you can stain the tray because of exposure to nicotine. In fact, this risk still stands even if you remove your aligners before going for a puff.
- Smoking leaves a smell in general. This becomes even worse because of the material of your aligners and how long you have to wear them. Any odors in your breath will get stronger and last longer.
- Smoking can make your aligners a breeding ground for gum disease if you don’t brush and floss after smoking because of the tar and nicotine buildup.
- Your teeth can get discolored faster, and your enamels may erode. This is because prolonged tobacco and nicotine exposure already increases that risk in general, and this is exacerbated when caught in your aligners.
Complications Smokers Face and How to Deal With Them
There are risks involved in cigarette smoking as is. It can generally affect your health in numerous ways, but this rings true in oral hygiene as well.
For Invisalign treatment, smokers may believe that they can avoid the effects mentioned above simply by taking out their clear aligners every time they smoke. However, this can lead to the treatment’s failure. If the aligner is taken out too often and stays off for prolonged sessions, you won’t enjoy its effects.
Invisalign needs to stay on so that it can gradually align your teeth. If that process is broken, it will simply become counterproductive. Consider how much you need to remove it with all the eating, brushing, and drinking. Smoke sessions can pad the time that you’re not actually using your clear aligners.
The best solution is to limit your smoking time as much as possible. Try to eliminate it completely, if you can. Just be sure that you still remove your Invisalign if you do decide to smoke, so you don’t run the negative risks. Dentists note how it’s also good practice to brush your teeth and floss before putting your clear aligners back on after a smoke.
Is Invisalign Still Effective for Smokers?
Invisalign won’t suddenly be completely useless just because you smoke. So, in a technical sense, your treatment should still work. It’s just best to cut back so your treatment can go as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
A dentist will usually advise a patient about ways to cut these habits down before going through with the treatment.
Conclusion
Basically, continuing to smoke while undergoing Invisalign treatment can unnecessarily complicate. Even though you can technically go through with smoking anyway, the drawbacks make it more of a hindrance. If you plan to get Invisalign, consider quitting or vastly reducing your cigarette consumption before starting.
If you need an expert dentists in Ypsilanti, Dental House MI has the team of dentists you’re looking for. Contact us now and get the best dental offers, services, and discounts with a free initial exam for new patients.
