Does Invisalign Hurt?
The number of teenagers and adults who select Invisalign as a preferred choice of orthodontic treatment is on a constant rise. Ever wondered how an Invisalign Treatment can re-align your teeth?
People are more aware of the health benefits of straighter teeth, and have been encouraging the same even on social media platforms! This cost-effective treatment gives you a much healthier smile in a shorter time than traditional braces!
Of course, this treatment comes with numerous benefits! But there are always a few things you need to take care of, to ensure a comfortable treatment experience. Dr. Brian Thurman constantly strives to make a difference in the lives of his patients by providing all the right tips across all orthodontic treatments. A lover of the outdoors, he encourages an active lifestyle for all his patients, young and old! So don’t hold back on a camping adventure or a game of Quidditch even with your fresh pair of Invisalign on!
Why Does Invisalign Hurt?
Invisalign aligners work by gently exerting pressure to gradually shift your teeth into their desired positions. This gentle movement may cause temporary discomfort, especially when you switch to a new aligner tray.
Several factors can influence the level of discomfort you experience, including:
- The tightness of the aligners: When you first receive new trays, they are usually the tightest, which means they apply more pressure on your teeth. This tightness can potentially lead to increased soreness as your teeth adjust to the new trays.
- Your individual sensitivity: Some individuals inherently possess a lower threshold for enduring discomfort compared to others. This variance in pain tolerance can be influenced by a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.
- The complexity of your tooth movement: When dealing with more intricate movements, the aligners may need to exert increased pressure, which can result in heightened discomfort that is more noticeable.
How Long Does Invisalign Hurt?
After swapping to a new set of Invisalign aligners, it’s common to experience some discomfort. Many patients find that this discomfort peaks during the initial 1-2 days after the switch, and then gradually diminishes. It’s reassuring to know that any pain associated with Invisalign is typically short-lived and tends to improve within a few days.
Invisalign Pain in the First Week
When you first start using new aligners, you may feel some discomfort as your teeth begin to adjust to the pressure and shift position. It’s normal for the initial discomfort to be the most noticeable. If the discomfort persists for more than a few days or becomes severe, it’s important to seek advice from your orthodontist.
Specific Areas of Invisalign Pain
While Invisalign discomfort is generally mild, some patients may experience tenderness in specific areas, including:
- Teeth: This is the most common area of discomfort, especially when wearing new aligners. The pressure can cause a dull ache or feeling of tightness.
- Gums: Some patients experience gum soreness, particularly around teeth that are moving significantly.
- Jaw: In some cases, mild jaw discomfort or tightness can occur as your jaw muscles adjust to the aligners.
- Tongue: Occasionally, the tongue may experience minor irritation from the aligners, which usually goes away within a day or two.
How To Deal With Invisalign Pain?
If you’re experiencing Invisalign tooth pain, don’t worry – there are a few Invisalign tips for pain that can help make the discomfort more bearable
-
-
-
Choose Soft Foods in Your Diet
One of the key culprits of Invisalign pain is your eating habits. Now we’re not asking you to stick to bland soups and porridge! There are plenty of ways to enjoy your meals without hurting your teeth. Here are some quick do’s and don’ts:
Do’s
- Mince your meat and chicken to avoid extra biting and chewing.
- Blend your vegetables and fruits into a smoothie
- Blend your muesli with milk and add lots of nuts into it for a healthy drink.
Don’ts
- Eat the whole piece of chicken or meat that stresses your teeth and gums.
- Eating the whole fruit that could give you aches and pain.
- Eating the whole cereal that can leave food debris stuck between your teeth.
-
Use Orthodontic Wax
Invisalign trays take up the exact shape of your teeth, even all those sharp edges that may not look as appealing once your trays are taken off! But because they fit so perfectly, they’re going to leave you with some pain and discomfort. But there’s no need for you to live with that pain. Orthodontic wax comes in handy to fill all those spots to cushion the pointed edges! They help a great deal in relieving you of the pain since you need to wear Invisalign for at least 22 hours every day!
-
Use Cold Compress over the Painful Area
A cold compress is well-known for its ability to reduce swelling and pain in your body to a great extent! And it provides relief to your teeth swelling too! You may experience Invisalign pain for the first few months of your treatment. Since you can’t take your trays off so frequently, a store-bought or a DIY cold compress will effectively subside the pain for a few hours.
-
Switch to New trays Before Bedtime
If you experience Invisalign pain, try switching up your trays to a new set just before bedtime. This relieves you of the pain for at least half a night so that you get an ample amount of rest before the next morning. The constant tooth movements are the reason behind the discomfort. Make sure you also check with your orthodontist about the do’s and don’ts of cleaning your Invisalign braces.
-
-
-
-
Use Aligner Retrieval Tools to Remove Aligners
You’re expected to keep your Invisalign aligners on for at least 22 hours every day. And the two-hour window where you’re allowed to remove them is only when you’re eating and drinking, as well as brush and floss your teeth. Remember that you may experience additional Invisalign pain if you’re not careful with removing your trays. The right way to remove your aligners is by using an aligner retrieval tool.
-
Designation of Your Invisalign Provider Matters
The designation of your Invisalign provider matters a lot. It’s not just a service they’re providing. Instead, it’s the right skills your Orthodontist and the team require to ensure an effective treatment experience. Remember that not all patients are a candidate for Invisalign. So it’s important to check with your orthodontist about the procedure and number of sessions involved. Check how comfortable you feel around them and if they answer your queries without any hesitation.
-
Use Invisalign Chewies
Chewing on Invisalign chewies can help you relieve some of the discomfort and quickly adjust to your aligners.Additionally, by making sure the aligners are well fitted to your teeth, these chewies help reduce any discomfort that can result from a poor fit.
-
-
Committing to an orthodontic treatment comes with a set of pros and cons. But it’s always the pros that outdo the cons; same is the case with a set of aligners. Take up these tips to mitigate Invisalign pain. If you’re still experiencing discomfort, book an appointment with Thurman Orthodontics, Fresno today to check the progress of your treatment.
Also Read: 11 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Invisalign Treatment
-
Dr. Brian Thurman has spent his entire life enjoying all the beauty that California has to offer. A Fresno native, he still escapes to the ocean or the mountains whenever his busy schedule allows. Driven by his love for natural beauty, Dr. Thurman enjoys creating beautiful smiles and healthy bites that last a lifetime. He is proud to be the only Ivy League trained Orthodontist in the Fresno/Clovis area.