Can You Smoke Weed While Wearing Invisalign?

Can You Smoke Weed While Wearing Invisalign?

Invisalign has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional metal braces for adults seeking straighter teeth. The clear plastic aligners are practically invisible, removable, and more comfortable than braces.

However, Invisalign still requires following careful protocols to work effectively. Smoking weed while wearing the aligners can interfere with the straightening process in multiple ways.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign uses a series of BPA-free plastic aligners that are custom-made to incrementally shift your teeth into proper position. Each aligner needs to be worn 20 to 22 hours per day for 2 weeks before switching to the next.

The longer you wear each aligner as directed, the more effective they can work to achieve the desired tooth movements. You also must avoid anything that could compromise or dislodge the aligners.

Potential Issues When Smoking Weed With Invisalign

There are a few potential problems that can happen if you smoke weed while wearing invisible aligners:

• Discoloration or staining
• A lingering smell that is hard to get rid of
• Higher risk of damage or lost aligners
• Decreased effectiveness due to reduced wear time

Let's explore these issues more closely.

Staining and Discoloration

Like coffee, tea, or red wine, smoking weed can cause pronounced staining and discoloration of the Invisalign plastic. As the aligners become stained, they become more visible and obvious in your mouth rather than clear.

The aligners may take on a brown, yellowish tint that could require you to replace the set early to maintain discretion. This adds unnecessary costs to your Invisalign treatment.

Lingering Odor

Invisalign trays tend to absorb and retain odors more than your regular teeth. Smoking marijuana will impart a characteristic herbal aroma into the plastic that can be challenging to eliminate.

Drinking water, brushing your aligners, using cleaning products like Polident or Steradent, and soaking them in denture cleaner can help reduce leftover smells. But it may never fully go away until you switch to your next set.

Higher Risk of Damage

Being under the influence of weed may make you more lackadaisical about removing your Invisalign properly. It takes focused coordination to grip the aligners correctly and avoid breakage when taking them out or putting them back in.

If you are high while handling your trays, you have a much greater risk of accidently cracking, warping, dropping, or otherwise rendering your aligners unusable. This could set your Invisalign treatment back weeks or months until new aligners arrive.

Decreased Wear Time

In order to smoke or consume weed products like edibles, the Invisalign trays need to first be removed. But you are supposed to have them in your mouth for 20 to 22 hours out of the day.

Every smoke break with the aligners out reduces your daily wear time and inhibits your progress. Missing the hourly wear goals day after day can significantly extend your treatment timeline.

Best Practices for Smoking Weed With Invisalign

Simply put - it's best not to smoke weed at all if want your Invisalign treatment to go as quickly and smoothly as possible. However, abstaining completely may not be realistic for some weed enthusiasts.

If you plan to occasionally smoke, here are some dos and don'ts to follow:

DO:

• Clean your teeth and aligners thoroughly before smoking to reduce residual stain and smell absorption
• Remove Invisalign gently and carefully when partaking
• Clean the aligners as soon as possible afterwards with proper products
• Rinse your mouth out well after smoking and before reinserting trays

DONT:

• Smoke too frequently while wearing Invisalign
• Fall asleep or pass out while high with aligners out
• Try whitening products on stained aligners without asking your orthodontist

As long as smoking weed remains an occasional indulgence and aligners get cleaned rapidly, damage may be nominal. But more frequent consumption will take a visible toll.

Other Options for Straight Teeth & Smoking Weed

If you dont think you can refrain from weed for up to a year or longer of Invisalign treatment, other straightening options exist like:

Clear Braces

Clear ceramic braces stain far less than plastic aligner trays. As long as you maintain good oral hygiene habits, smoking weed should not discolor clear braces drastically.

Just be sure to thoroughly brush and floss after smoking to avoid residue buildup. Be extremely careful removing any rubber bands before smoking and replacing afterwards.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are affixed to the back of your teeth rather than front. They use metal brackets and wires but are largely concealed from view.

With lingual braces, smoking cannabis poses no cosmetic stain risks. But plaque and tartar may still accumulate faster if oral hygiene is neglected.

Consult Your Orthodontist

Ultimately you need to discuss plans for smoking weed openly with your orthodontist when weighing straightening options. They can guide you accordingly based on lifestyle factors.

Be honest about your anticipated weed usage so the best solution for straight teeth can be identified whether thats traditional braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, or possibly another alternative like clear aligners made specially to withstand more staining.

With the right straightening method tailored to your unique situation, you can hopefully keep enjoying cannabis without thwarting your progress or budget for a brighter, straighter smile.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.