People struggling with bite issues, gaps, and other orthopedic issues no longer rely on traditional metal braces to straighten their smiles. Fixing minor malocclusions is now possible with minimally invasive treatment such as Invisalign, an effective alternative to braces that uses clear, removable trays.
Invisalign treatment is becoming the go-to choice for many patients thanks to its unobstructed nature, but while it doesn’t invade the mouth the same way metal braces do, the trays can still cause discomfort for the first four weeks. While they won’t be as painful as conventional braces, there are ways to minimize the achiness one feels when wearing Invisalign.
What to Expect When Wearing Invisalign
As mentioned above, Invisalign doesn’t necessarily cause the same level of pain as braces, but the pressure exerted on your teeth can cause discomfort. The trays will likely feel snug, so you may develop a lisp for the first few days, along with a persisting soreness.
Some may also experience a sore tongue since patients subconsciously move it over the aligners due to the unfamiliar feeling. If you manage to make a conscious effort to stop the bad habit, you won’t have to worry about hurting your tongue moving forward.
After the First Two Weeks
After the first two weeks of wearing Invisalign, you should notice a significant reduction in pressure. This means your Invisalign is working, which means it shifted enough to fit your teeth perfectly. You’ll have to wear the next set of aligner trays once the older ones become loose, so you may experience another two weeks of discomfort as your teeth adjust.
Keep in mind that you may feel pain in one tooth only, which is a normal occurrence. When your teeth realign, one or two teeth may be receiving the most pressure, but the pain should fade once all your teeth align equally.
Feeling Pain When Removing Invisalign
The freedom to remove the aligner trays when eating or to clean your teeth is a game-changer, but it can feel uncomfortable at first if you do it by hand. This can cause the trays to dig into your gums, so it’s important to use a tool called the OrthoKey, which should help you pop out the aligners with little-to-no discomfort.
The Bottom Line: Understanding What to Expect in the First Weeks of Wearing Invisalign
Invisalign is an excellent treatment that allows for easier alignment for minor bite issues, gaps, and crooked pearls, but it can still cause aches and pains despite its minimally invasive nature. The pain should easily fade within weeks, but it helps to know what to expect so you can prepare accordingly and achieve a more comfortable experience.
How Can We Help?
Are you striving to improve your oral health? Our qualified and licensed local dentists in Waterford, MI, USA, offer multi-faceted dental services that can help enhance your smile in more ways than one.
From dentures, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, oral surgery, dental implants, and more, we can fill the gaps in your teeth and put your health back on track. Get in touch with us at (947) 999-9909 for a free consultation, and let's see what we can do for you.