Can You Smoke While Wearing Clear Aligners?

Tobacco use can lead to a wide range of oral health problems. Patients who are undergoing Invisalign treatment to straighten their teeth at our Redwood City, CA, dental practice may experience smoke particles becoming trapped inside their clear aligners. Ideally, patients should refrain from smoking entirely, but for those who choose to use tobacco products, steps can be taken to minimize the undesirable cosmetic side effects of smoking.

What Are the Risks Associated with Tobacco Use and Invisalign?

If you are a heavy smoker, Invisalign may not be an ideal treatment for you. Smoking will eventually lead to discoloration of your aligner trays. This negates one of the main benefits of Invisalign: the discreet and concealed nature of the cosmetic treatment.

Over time, tobacco particles that are inhaled embed in the saliva and creep into the space between your clear aligner and teeth. The particles then build up as a thin film of discolored residue.

The dark film will eventually obscure the aligners and leave your teeth looking discolored. The residue can be difficult to clean. The buildup can even lead to tooth decay and other oral health problems.

Tobacco use has other risk factors associated with it, including oral cancer and low jawbone density. This is one reason why the American Dental Association discourages the use of all nicotine products made or derived from tobacco.

Ways to Reduce Tobacco-related Discoloration

There are steps that light and social smokers can take to reduce undesirable side effects associated with tobacco use. Since the trays are removable, patients should remove their trays when smoking. A good time to do this may be before or after eating when the trays would have to be removed anyway.

Ideally, individuals who are undergoing Invisalign treatment should brush their teeth after eating and smoking to ensure that tobacco and food particles do not accumulate. By avoiding smoking while the trays are being worn, clear aligner users can prevent buildup and enamel discoloration.

Additional steps our patients should take to enjoy optimal cosmetic and oral health results include:

• Cleaning your trays often using water and a soft-bristled brush (toothpaste can leave a white film)
• Avoiding drinking beverages (except water) while your trays are in
• Brushing and flossing before placing your trays to avoid trapping food particles and plaque
• Wearing your aligners for 22 hours per day
• Reporting lost trays to our office immediately
• Maintaining good oral hygiene habits
• Never smoking while wearing your trays

Once your Invisalign treatment is complete, you can benefit from professional teeth whitening treatments at our Redwood City dental practice. Our office uses the BriteSmile® system, which can brighten your teeth by several shades in just one hour.

Enjoy a Revamped through Invisalign Treatments

If misaligned or crooked teeth leave you hesitant to smile, our doctors can have you fitted with discreet and comfortable clear aligner trays. In as few as several months, you can enjoy a transformed smile. To learn more about this life-changing treatment, please contact our office online or call (650) 367-4967.