Are Invisalign clear aligner braces painful?
We noticed this has become one of the most common questions about Invisalign in Preston. People always want to know if Invisalign hurts. If you are already familiar with traditional braces, then you will understand that although the pain you feel might not be intense there is always a level of pain that comes with this type of orthodontic treatment.
Even though Invisalign is often advertised as being pain-free or less painful than metal braces, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt at all. There is always a level of pain you experience when the teeth are moving and the bite is being straightened.
But how much pain should you expect with Invisalign and when does it go away? Here is all you need to know about the Invisalign experience and what to do to relieve the pain.
Is Invisalign Painful?
Yes, Invisalign does come with a mild level of pain. But the type of pain you experience with Invisalign is far less than that of traditional metal braces. And like any other type of orthodontic treatment, the pain fades away after some time as your teeth begin to adjust to the presence of the aligners.
Patients say they often experience the highest level of discomfort from Invisalign within the first week of using a new set of aligners. In addition, the kind of pain you experience with Invisalign is dependent on your pain tolerance. Some people even say they don’t experience any pain at all.
What is Causing the Pain?
There are a few reasons you experience pain with Invisalign. The first one is the soreness that comes from the aligners pressing against your teeth. Just like it is for traditional braces, during the first few weeks of treatment, the edges of the aligners might be rubbing against the inside of your mouth.
Although the mouth will eventually develop callouses to combat sensitivity after some time, the rubbing, pressing, and scratching of the aligners against your mouth can be uncomfortable. But the mouth will always adjust to this after the first couple of weeks of wearing a new set of aligners.
Another cause of the pain is when your teeth begin to shift into position. Invisalign is designed to shift your teeth into a straighter position to give you a healthier smile. To do that, it has to put pressure on the teeth which might cause soreness.
The soreness is usually more during the first few days of wearing a fresh set of aligners but will fade off until it’s time to put on another set of aligners.
How Long Does The Pain Last?
Typically, the pain that often accompanies Invisalign usually lasts for a few days after putting on a new set of aligners. But since you will be required to wear a new Invisalign aligner every two weeks, it means you may be experiencing some level of discomfort happening every two weeks.
Once your teeth get used to the new aligner after a couple of days, the soreness will fade away. So if you are asking, “is Invisalign painful” because you have so much fear already in your heart, relax! It’s not something that serious.
Some Tips to Help With Invisalign Pain
1: wear your Invisalign aligners as much as possible
Is not enough to ask “Is Invisalign painful?” you should also be ready to pay the commitment associated with the treatment. One of them is ensuring you always wear your aligners. If you are thinking of a way to reduce soreness, think of wearing your aligners as much as possible.
This will allow your teeth to shift sooner and help the aligner to its job even in the first few days it’s in. However, don’t forget you are not allowed to have your aligner on when cleaning your teeth, eating, or drinking anything other than water.
2: Drink cold water or suck on ice cubes
To soothe your sore teeth, you may want to drink cold water. At the same time, you can suck on small ice cubes too. But just be sure not to bite down the ice cubes when they are in your mouth.
3: Make sure your aligner is seated correctly
This is usually the source of pain in many people. When the Invisalign aligner is not seated properly, it can cause unnecessary pressure on your teeth, and hence feel uncomfortable. When you insert your aligners, make sure they are snapped into place and then push them completely.
4: Eat only soft foods a couple of days after starting a new aligner
In the first two to three days after having a new set of aligners on, try to avoid eating hard foods. Instead, go for soft a diet that primarily consists of soft foods. When you think you don’t feel any soreness in your teeth again, you can then start eating crunchy and hard foods again.
5: Start a new aligner before bed
This will come in really handy in helping to reduce the pain that often comes with new aligners. When you want to start new aligners, insert them a few hours before bed instead of in the morning. This will give your teeth a chance to get used to the aligner overnight, hence reducing the amount of pain you would experience.
While you were sleeping, your teeth would already be going through the initial adjustment period.
6: Rinse your mouth with saltwater
One of the causes of pain with Invisalign is when your aligners are rubbing against your tongue and gums. In that case, get salt water and swish it around your mouth to clean the sores before spitting it out. This will help soothe the soreness and hence relieve the pain.
7: Take over-the-counter pain relievers if necessary
To help with the pain, you can always use over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and other over-the-counter painkillers.
If you notice you always experience pain when changing your aligners, consider using a painkiller before changing the aligner. This will help prevent the pain from happening at all.
8: Use Orajel
Orajel is a topical pain reliever you can directly apply to your teeth where you are experiencing soreness or pain. It will temporarily numb the area so you don’t feel any pain from there again. Make sure you take out your aligner so you will be able to apply the Orajel directly to those areas where you are experiencing the pain.
Final Note
Any dental appliance can cause pain and discomfort, and Invisalign is not an exception. However, compared to traditional braces and other orthodontic treatments, Invisalign seems to be less painful overall.
The pain experienced by Invisalign is usually because of the shifting teeth. Or sometimes because of the aligners pressing against the teeth.
However, the level of pain experienced with Invisalign depends on individual pain tolerance levels. Some people don’t even feel any pain at all. Furthermore, Invisalign pain doesn’t last long. In a couple of days, after new aligners are used, the pain begins to fade off until it’s time to get in another set of aligners.
Is Invisalign painful? Yes, but it is mild pain compared to traditional braces.
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