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The first week: while this may send shivers down the spines of people who go to school or handle their taxes, it’s an especially daunting time for those who get Invisalign treatments.
Invisalign is heavily marketed as a reliable and effective solution for minor or mild orthodontic issues. While this is true, adapting to brand new trays can be difficult. There is a necessary adjustment period that follows every time you switch to a new pair.
Some patients are intimidated by the idea of getting Invisalign because of the pain that they expect to experience for the first few days. Ironically, the discomfort is a good sign of the progress that’s to come when you think of the long-term results, so it really is a good thing!
Read on for a guide to manage the pain during your first few days of Invisalign treatment.
Why Is Invisalign Painful?
While Invisalign may not necessarily look like braces, it works similarly; hence, the unpleasant experience. Invisalign trays may look simple from a visual perspective because it’s designed with smooth and clear plastic that’s made to fit your mouth. But it does more work than you may think; after all, they are made to get your teeth right into place.
These clear aligners implement pressure to begin a series of calculated shifts in your teeth, and the resulting force may be painful for the gums. Realistically, the kind of pain, aching, or soreness that most people fear when getting Invisalign treatments may persist between one to five days. After five days, the mouth will begin to adjust, and the resulting pressure won’t be as difficult to deal with or tolerate as before.
Should I Remove My Invisalign When It Becomes Painful?
Removing your Invisalign trays may provide some pain relief, but it’s not a recommended solution. For optimum results, you must keep your aligners on between 20 to 22 hours. This means you should only remove them when you’re eating.
While this may seem like a fairly long amount of time, the discomfort you experience can only be made worse by taking the aligners off for longer than recommended as it prolongs the adjustment period. In short, it’s best to keep them on for your teeth to adjust much more quickly.
How Do I Deal With Invisalign Pain?
Although the pain you can experience with an Invisalign treatment is inevitable during the dreaded first week, there are some ways you can manage everything. To help you stay on top of your discomfort once the clear aligners are placed, here are some proven tips that Dental House MI’s experts urge patients to follow:
Ask For a Painkiller Prescription
The first few days of Invisalign pain can be mitigated with the help of medicine. Once you get started with your treatment, you should ask your dentist to write up a painkiller prescription for you. If the pain becomes unbearable, no matter how much you try to take your mind off it, simply take one dose so that you can manage your discomfort.
Remove and Re-Adjust
Sometimes, the pain or discomfort associated with Invisalign treatments can be rooted in the fact that they didn’t set in correctly. They may be forcing your teeth to move much more than they should. Should your gums and teeth start to ache more than you’ve been advised, try popping them out and putting them in place again for a proper reset. If the pain persists, contact your dentist for further advice and potential corrections.
Conclusion
Experiencing the soreness, aching, and pain associated with Invisalign trays can make the first week of adjustment seem intimidating, but it’s quite easy to manage the pain. If you apply the tips mentioned above, you can ease up your experiences so you can stay committed to your goal of better and straighter teeth!
If you’re looking for an affordable dentist in Ann Arbor to check on your oral health, get in touch with Dental House MI for a free consultation!
