The aligners used for Invisalign treatment work by putting pressure against your teeth, slowly but surely repositioning them to help you achieve a straighter smile. As you can likely guess, it’s normal to experience a bit of discomfort during this process. Luckily, it shouldn’t be anything you can’t handle – especially if you follow your dentist’s tips for finding relief. Here’s what to expect when it comes to the discomfort caused by new Invisalign aligners and the steps you can take to manage it.
How Much Discomfort Can You Expect When Wearing New Invisalign Aligners?
According to the majority of Invisalign patients, the discomfort caused by new Invisalign aligners isn’t necessarily outright painful. You may notice a dull ache or a feeling of tightness, but it shouldn’t be too severe. On top of that, most of the discomfort occurs during the first couple of days of wearing a new aligner; after that, it should start to fade.
It is not normal for Invisalign to cause sharp, stabbing, or burning pain. If you start to experience such symptoms, reach out to your dentist immediately.
What Can You Do to Relieve Invisalign Discomfort?
When it comes to normal Invisalign discomfort, there are a few steps you can take to manage it. Here are a few recommendations that your dentist might make:
- Apply a cold compress to your face over the area where discomfort is present for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. It’s best to use the medication about an hour before putting in a new aligner; that way, you won’t have to wait for it to take effect.
- Swish some warm salt water in your mouth. This goes a long way toward relieving sore or inflamed gums.
- Think about the foods you’re eating. Cold and soft foods are often good choices, but be sure to stay away from anything hard or crunchy while your mouth is still sore.
- Wait to switch to new aligners until right before you go to bed. The first few hours are when the most discomfort will occur, so it helps to be asleep during this time.
- Check the edges of your aligner to see if they’re unusually rough or sharp. If they are, speak to your dentist about having them adjusted.
The discomfort caused by new Invisalign aligners is typically nothing to be worried about. Nevertheless, if you would like additional advice for staying comfortable throughout your treatment, remember that you can always let your dentist and their team know about your concerns.
About the Practice
At Brown, Reynolds, Snow, LeNoir Dentistry, you’ll find multiple dental experts who are dedicated to bringing families in Richmond state-of-the-art, comfortable, and fully customized care. We help our patients improve their grins in a variety of ways, such as giving them Invisalign aligners to straighten their smiles. To schedule a consultation at our office, visit our website or call (804) 288-5324.