Wish I Had Known Before I Got Invisalign

I would not have gotten Invisalign if I had known they would be absolutely yellow if I kept smoking. My teeth were not and are not this yellow but the trays get yellow within a few days. I feel like I wasted my money. I just hope it will be worth it in the end. Why do dentists give smokers Invisalign? – Jaelyn

Jaelyn – Customarily, patients who are smokers are advised that smoking can discolor Invisalign. Unfortunately, it sounds as if this information wasn’t made clear enough to you, or perhaps there is more discoloration than you anticipated.

Invisalign can be removed, so depending on how often you smoke, you do have the option of removing the aligners when you smoke, rinsing your mouth after smoking, and putting the aligners back in. Removing the aligners can limit the discoloration. If you smoke frequently and remove the aligners each time, your treatment period may be slightly prolonged. Discuss this concern with your dentist to learn what he or she recommends.

This post is sponsored by San Jose dentists Dr. Ralph Stanley, Dr. Magdalena Azzarelli, and Dr. Rogé Jacob of Hillsdale Dental Care.