5 Things Every Smoker Should Know After Getting Invisalign®

Invisalign® is an ideal solution to straighten your smile without the inconveniences of metal braces. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign uses clear or invisible plastic trays worn over the teeth. These trays must be worn for at least 22 hours daily and removed when eating or drinking anything other than clear water. York Dental Group offers Invisalign in York Harbor, ME.

If you’re a smoker, you might wonder whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign aligners. The good news is, yes, many smokers have used Invisalign. However, smoking during your Invisalign treatment can negatively affect your treatment and exposure you to numerous risks, including:

• Smoking can cause oral and healthy issues.

Invisalign aside, smoking increases the risk of oral issues like gum disease, teeth staining, dry mouth, chronic bad breath, oral cancer, oral thrush, and tooth loss. Since you wear Invisalign aligners for many hours throughout the day, your risk of developing these oral issues is even higher.

In addition to poor oral health, smoking during your Invisalign treatment increases your risk of serious health conditions like lung disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers like oral, throat, and lung cancer.

• Smoking can stain aligners.

The nicotine and tar ingredients in tobacco can turn your teeth yellow within a few months. The same thing will happen if you smoke during your Invisalign treatment. Even if you remove the aligners before smoking, the staining ingredients in the mouth and teeth can still discolor the aligners. To minimize staining effects, remove the aligners before smoking and brush your teeth afterward.

• Smoking can delay your treatment.

Since you might need to smoke a couple of cigarettes a day, you might need to remove your aligners more regularly. Invisalign aligners can be worn for at least 22 hours daily. Removing the aligners too regularly to smoke can lessen the number of hours you keep the aligners on, greatly delaying and lengthening your treatment.

• Smoking can stop your treatment.

Smoking increases your risk of oral issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, and others. Gum disease makes your gums more sensitive and sorer. Wearing the Invisalign trays further irritates the gums, which can cause severe pain and discomfort. The dentist might recommend stopping the treatment from treating these issues first.

• Smoking can cause bad breath.

Since Invisalign aligners go over the tooth, Invisalign patients are more susceptible to bad breath. Brushing or rinsing your mouth regularly is essential to refresh your breath and prevent bacteria build-up. When you smoke during your Invisalign treatment, the tar and nicotine substances can get trapped between the teeth and trays for long hours, resulting in bad breath.

Should you smoke during your Invisalign treatment?

As you’ve seen, smoking can affect your Invisalign treatment in several ways. That said, it’s always better to quit smoking for good both for your Invisalign treatment, oral health, and overall well-being. It will ensure faster and more effective treatment.

Smokers should quit tobacco use several weeks or months before the Invisalign treatment. Be sure to speak to your doctor or dentist if you’re having trouble quitting smoking. They can offer you tested techniques for quitting or provide nicotine replacement medications.

If you must smoke during the treatment, at least make sure you remove the aligners before smoking. Be careful not to remove the aligners too frequently to affect your treatment. You can consider limiting the number of cigarettes you take to facilitate faster and more effective treatment.

After smoking, brush and floss your teeth and mouth thoroughly. It will help eliminate the staining ingredients and reduce the risk of staining and oral issues like gum disease.

Schedule an Appointment Today with our dentist in York Harbor, ME

Do you need more information about Invisalign near you? Or perhaps you need help quitting tobacco use. Schedule a dentist appointment with our certified Invisalign providers can provide great resources to make the process easier for you to start your Invisalign treatment as soon as possible.