Invisalign is a clear dental aligner that you wear to correct your teeth by moving them into the best position for your smile.
Invisalign is not a drug or medicine but contains some active ingredients that can interact with other medications, including smoke. These include sodium fluoride and bisphenol A (BPA), known as endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that significantly interfere with hormones in the body.
It’s possible that smoking while wearing Invisalign may increase your risk of developing cavities, gum disease, and more.Therefore, smoking with Invisalign braces is not recommended. Several studies have shown that using smoke with Invisalign can cause serious injury to your mouth and teeth. Find out more about Invisalign and smoking below:
What Is Invisalign, And How Do They Work
Invisalign is a clear, straightening alternative to traditional metal braces and retainers. The treatment aligns your teeth with tiny plastic malleable trays custom-made to fit your mouth. The trays are removable, and one can eat and drink as you usually would.
Invisalign trays have a transparent, durable material called Bio-Oss, designed to look natural and feel comfortable under the gumline. Each tray has a tiny wire in its center, which fits into a small hole on the tooth meant to straighten. You move the wire from side to side, removing some of the tooth’s enamel and reshaping it into the desired form—straight or crooked—until it fits perfectly into its new shape.
The braces come in different lengths—from four to 10 weeks’ wear—and include removable trays for eating and drinking. The system is noninvasive (and will not interfere with your daily activities), so you’re free to smile naturally while wearing them!
Here’s How Invisalign Works
Your aligner has a highly flexible plastic called “tri-flex.” The material is in the front of your mouth for about two weeks, where it hardens and sets. Then, by moving the aligner back and forth in your mouth, it stretches slightly around each tooth — slowly shifting them into position one at a time. The process takes about a year to complete!
Invisalign from orthodontics near me in Richmond can help straighten teeth and improve your smile in a variety of ways:
- It’s removable, and they are more comfortable, especially if you have braces or other dental work.
- It stays on for about two years, so you won’t need to worry about maintenance.
- It’s comfortable to wear. You can comfortably sleep in it if you want!
Since Invisalign is made of Z-Lig (a medical-grade plastic), no wires or brackets are involved in your treatment process or aftercare. After treatment, the only thing left behind is a small amount of residue from the aligner (about 0.02 milliliters per day).
Cost Of Invisalign
The Cost of Invisalign varies depending on the number of aligners you want and how far they need to be placed in your smile. If you’re getting just one set of aligners, it can cost between $3,000 and $5,000. If you’re getting multiple sets, Cost of Invisalign ranges between $4,000 and $8,000. The Cost of Invisalign depends on whether your dentist offers financing or if you have to pay out of pocket.
Braces Cost in Huston
The typical Braces cost in Huston is from $2000 to $5000. Based on the patient’s preferences and the orthodontist’s precise recommendations, this kind of orthodontic treatment is highly individualized. The type of insurance policy held, the patient’s age and the style of braces chosen can all significantly impact Braces cost in Huston for conventional metal braces typically vary from $3,500 to $5,000. Dental insurance typically covers $1,000 to $2,000 for a child’s standard metal braces.
The intricacy and time required to correct your child’s teeth will also determine Braces Cost in Huston. Whether or not the braces are on both the bottom and top sets of teeth is also essential. The Cost will also depend on the type of braces used. The first step is determining the type of braces your child needs and how long their treatment will likely last. You can then decide what the best course of action is.
See also Braces cost near me in Richmond, TX
Cost Of Braces in Richmond
Treatment for Orthodontics near me in Richmond can go up to $8,000 without insurance, and braces are not inexpensive. For working families, many Orthodontics near me in Richmond is dedicated to identifying low Cost of braces in Richmond with reasonable options. With Smiles Change Lives, more than 750 Orthodontics near me in Richmond are working together to offer children low Cost of braces in Richmond.
Effects of Smoke During Invisalign Treatment
Can you smoke wearing Invisalign, and does smoking affect Invisalign? As with any treatment involving tobacco products, smoking during Invisalign treatment can have adverse effects on your teeth and gums.
Here are some of the impacts that Invisalign and smoking have on your teeth:
Smoking Can Stain the Aligner Trays
The charcoal and other ingredients of the Invisalign trays are not edible, but they are still part of your mouth and can become stained if you smoke. The stains may be difficult to remove, even with professional cleaning. Invisalign and smoking may also increase gum disease and tooth discoloration risk.
Lingering Bad Breath from Smoking
While smoking doesn’t affect the health of your teeth directly, it can cause long-lasting effects on the oral cavity, including an increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay (cavities). The nicotine found in cigarettes also causes dry mouth, making chewing more complex over time, leading to problems like periodontal disease.
Smoking can also cause bad breath, especially if you smoke after eating. For example, when you eat something sweet, your saliva turns more acidic, affecting how much nicotine is in your mouth. Meanwhile, cigarette carbon dioxide makes teeth sensitive to acidic foods that break down teeth’ enamel.
Increased Risk of Tooth Discoloration
Cigarette smoke, cigars, and pipes contain certain chemicals that discolor your teeth. The effects of Smoke During Invisalign Treatment can happen in as little as five minutes after you start smoking, but it can take up to 24 hours for the discoloration to fade away.
If you are a smoker with Invisalign or are thinking about getting Invisalign, you should try to quit smoking and see if this helps with your discoloration.
Also, if you smoke during Invisalign treatment these chemicals may affect your gums or teeth by causing inflammation and bleeding, leading to tooth decay or gum disease.
Increased Risk of Gum Disease
The bacteria on your teeth may not get killed by smoking because of their resistance to high temperatures (the temperature at which cigarette ash burns).
You may need more frequent flossing or brushing than usual while wearing Invisalign because there is a higher chance that bacteria could enter your mouth through your gums.
Increased Risk of Tooth Loss
Invisalign and smoking pose a higher risk of losing one or more teeth than nonsmokers. Smoking destroys the enamel, the hardest substance in your body, and protects your teeth from decay.
Increased Risk of Oral Cancer
The nicotine in cigarettes causes inflammation that leads cancerous cells to grow, leading to oral cancer. If exposed to second-hand smoke as an adult, you may be at an increased risk of developing oral cancer.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is a common side effect that can cause both taste and swallowing problems, including difficulty swallowing liquids and food and even pain when eating certain foods or drinking fluids such as water.
Less Time with Aligners On, Risking Invisalign Failure
Invisalign is a fixed orthodontic appliance worn for the duration of treatment. Invisalign and smoking tendencies can decrease effectiveness by trapping nicotine and tobacco particles within your teeth. The longer you wait to quit smoking while wearing an Invisalign appliance, the better your chance of achieving the best possible results from dental treatment using this innovative technology.
Weakened Liners
Smoke with Invisalign in your mouth can cause the plastic liner to weaken over time, causing it to break down faster than expected. Even if you don’t smoke or drink coffee regularly, smoke can still cause the Invisalign to fail more quickly than usual.
Trapped Nicotine & Tobacco in Teeth
The effects of smoke on dental health are more pronounced when it comes down to people who chew tobacco or dip tobacco into their mouths. Chewing tobacco contains harmful substances that can damage your teeth and gums over time. It can lead to tooth decay, gum infection, and periodontal disease risk.
Overall Poor Oral Health
In addition to this, smoking can have adverse effects on your oral health overall. Smoking lowers immunity, leading to problems like cold sores, gum disease, and bad breath. Smokers also tend to experience dry mouth, which can cause tooth decay and other dental issues if not appropriately addressed by visiting a dentist regularly.
Tips For Smoking During Invisalign Treatment
Many smokers, can you smoke with aligners? Or can you smoke with Invisalign? The answer is a resounding No! And as you can see above, smoking while undergoing Invisalign treatment has several negative impacts. However, if you can’t control your temptation to smoke, Richmond Orthodontics insists you use the advice below to do so responsibly and without harming your treatment.
- Smoke without the aligner trays It would help if you did not smoke when using the gel or liquid form of Invisalign. It would help if you altogether avoided smoking when your aligner tray is off your teeth, as it could cause discoloration and staining of your teeth.
- Brush and floss after having a cigarette. Once you have finished smoking, brush your teeth thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste to remove any stains left by tobacco residue on them. Then floss the entire mouth area to remove any remaining stains from smoking.
- Richmond Orthodontics advises their patients to limit the number of cigarettes they have per day. Try not to smoke more than two or three cigarettes daily, as this can damage your teeth and gums, cause bad breath, and reduce saliva production in your mouth region (which leads to dry mouth).
- Brush the teeth before putting aligners back in place: Brushing your teeth before placing them will help prevent them from sticking when you put them back in place later on. So, there will be less friction between the two pieces of plastic, which means less damage occurs over time. So, brush before you put them back on!
- If you are going to smoke during treatment, try to do so at meal times so that aligners do not need to get removed excessively. Brush the teeth before putting aligners back in place. Clean them at least twice a day and after every meal or snack.
- Ensure the aligners are in place for at least 20 to 22 hours daily. It will reduce the time you need to wear them and make what is otherwise a harrowing experience much more bearable.
- Clean your aligners at least twice daily. The aligners are made of plastic and can get hard, especially when exposed to water. By cleaning them with water, you can ensure they are always soft and flexible.
- Make sure you replace your aligners every six months (this will help keep them healthy). Orthodontics near me in Richmond will help with the replacements and other routine oral care.
- Don’t smoke near your mouth, and ensure that you don’t blow smoke into your mouth while wearing aligners.
Alternatives To Treatment that Exist for Smokers?
So, if Invisalign prohibits smoking, are there any other accessible treatments? The response is yes, but they are pretty constrained. An alternative is clear braces; however, like Invisalign, they can get stained by cigarette or vape smoke. They aren’t the best option because of this.
Richmond Orthodontics advises that traditional metal braces might be the best option for smokers. The smoke doesn’t tarnish the stainless steel. However, smoke from cigarettes or vape pens can degrade the adhesive that holds the brackets to the teeth, creating a new challenge.
The Perfect Solution: Don’t Smoke with Invisalign
According to Richmond Orthodontics, the best option is to stop smoking permanently. It’s the only way to eliminate the risk of gum disease, tooth loss, and other health problems. While you can still smoke during Invisalign treatment with no adverse effects on your teeth, you should still avoid smoking for long periods.
The second tip is to visit Elara Orthodontics in Richmond, TX every six months for a checkup and cleaning. They also have the nest Cost of braces in Richmond. It will ensure that you do not develop gum problems or infections from inhaling second-hand smoke when you smoke around others who may have a cold or other illness.
If you are already experiencing gum disease or other oral health issues, quitting smoking may not be enough. Make changes in your daily habits, including brushing twice daily and flossing once a day, at least 30 minutes after every meal.