Invisalign is an excellent choice for straightening teeth, yet it may cause some discomfort, pain, or soreness. Generally speaking, the ache associated with Invisalign is milder than that of traditional braces and can be felt differently from person to person. Most patients describe the feeling as a pressure-like sensation when their teeth shift into place in new positions. 

When undergoing Invisalign treatment, the most frequent moments of discomfort come at the start and when transitioning to a new aligner tray. This is because your teeth are being moved into an unfamiliar position that may cause some degree of distress. With each new aligner comes another step in this repositioning process; while some individuals only experience pain for a few days, others may have ongoing soreness throughout their entire treatment period.    

Whether through lifestyle changes or using medication, don’t hesitate to take steps towards mitigating the soreness caused by realigning your teeth for a perfect smile. But before that, let’s first go through the causes of pain from Invisalign. 

 

Common causes of pain from Invisalign

1. Unfamiliar sensation: As you initially begin using Invisalign, your teeth and mouth may feel uncomfortable when adjusting to the aligners and novel feelings.
2. Irritation from aligners: For some, the alignment trays may result in irritation or soreness of the cheeks and gum lines due to contact with plastic materials.
3. Pressure (the leading cause of Invisalign jaw pain): Invisalign treatment relies on pressure to guide teeth into the desired position; however, this force can cause soreness and ache in the beginning stages. Therefore, it is essential to start with a comfortable amount of pressure while being mindful of any discomfort you may experience along your orthodontic journey.
4. Chewing on aligners: Remember never to chew on your Invisalign trays, as their sharp edges can cause an immense amount of pain and discomfort to both the inside lining and gums in your mouth.
5. Increased cavities/Tooth degradation: It is essential to remember to practise proper oral hygiene when undergoing orthodontic treatment, such as brushing and flossing regularly. This will help reduce the risk of cavities, especially around brackets or aligners that can accumulate plaque in hard-to-reach areas if not kept clean.
6. Jaw pain: Oftentimes, incorrect alignment between the upper and lower jaw can lead to jaw pain caused by grinding or improper closing of the bite. Having regular follow-up appointments with your dentist is necessary when dealing with Invisalign treatments, as they will be able to spot misalignment issues early before too much discomfort is caused by them.
7. Speech impediment: While adjusting to speaking while wearing an aligner, you may completely unconsciously start lisping until you get used to how it feels in your mouth; this could make conversations awkward, so taking a small break from wearing your device for conversations may help ease this problem until you eventually get accustomed over time, but speech impediment is still expected for some individuals using aligners for 2 weeks or more than 20 hours per day.
8. Dry mouth syndrome: Salivary glands may produce less saliva when an individual wears an aligner leading them prone to having dry mouth syndrome, which, other than being uncomfortable,  also makes it easier for bacteria or debris from food or drinks that isn’t removed via brushing after meals; this then leads cavitation due lack of a proper cleaning process as well as bad breath (halitosis) over long periods which could eventually damage teeth further if not cared for appropriately using a remineralising rinse when possible.
9. Difficulty eating certain foods/drinks: Wearing a specific type of object inside your mouth, including a plastic material-based retainer, might restrict certain foods, such as chewy textures like taffy candies or crunchy snacks like chips; those were found harder than usual for individuals wearing aligners, although one could eat these types of food occasionally just given particular precautions have been taken (such as removing aligner beforehand) after consulting with their doctor prior processing further with treatment.
10. Pain reliever dependency: During the initial phase especially,  patients might feel inclined towards taking over-the-counter pain medications more often than usually advised depending on each individual’s level of discomfort resulting from such new conditions introduced by having something foreign inside their mouths while attempting adjustments in order to correct dentition shapes.

 

Home remedies for pain from Invisalign?

 

 

Use an icepack or cold compress for Invisalign pain

To reduce swelling and provide temporary relief from pain, place something cold against your skin. A classic ice pack or frozen veggies in a Ziploc bag make strong candidates for this task; you can also opt for a cold compress if desired. Make sure that whatever item you choose is always wrapped up first in some type of cloth or towel to prevent direct contact with the affected area. You may repeat this technique several times throughout the day as needed – never any longer than 10 minutes at once

 

Drink cold water

If you’re looking for a fast, effortless way to reduce the pain of your aligners, try sipping on some chilled water. This is an easy solution that can be done without having to take out your aligners plus, it’s good for you. Unlike other sugary drinks like juice or soda, cold water won’t cause cavities or damage your teeth in any way.

 

Suck on ice cubes

To reduce the effects of Invisalign discomfort, sucking on ice cubes can be a lifesaver. No need to take out your aligners beforehand; just remember to suck–not chew. Chewing down too hard may lead to even more pain as teeth become sensitive while wearing Invisalign. Doing this quick and easy action will help ease up mild discomfort in no time.

 

Avoid eating hard food

If your teeth are aching, stay away from crunchy foods such as nuts or crackers since it can be intensely painful to chomp down on them. Opt for softer edibles like bread, hummus, tuna salad and hard-boiled eggs that won’t cause you any further suffering when you eat them.

 

Use over-the-counter painkillers

Ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen are popular over-the-counter painkillers that can be used to alleviate Invisalign discomfort. Always follow the medication’s dosage and directions as indicated on its packaging. If you often struggle with Invisalign pain after switching aligners, a preemptive dose of an OTC analgesic might help minimise or prevent any subsequent suffering.

 

Make sure your Invisalign is seated correctly

Ensure that your aligners are completely seated and pressed into place when inserting. If they’re not properly fitted against your teeth, they may become uncomfortable due to the unnecessary pressure applied to them. Moreover, an improperly seated alignment will cause even more pain as it pulls your teeth into an incorrect position.

 

Don’t take your aligners out too often

For optimal Invisalign results, it should be worn for no less than 22 hours a day. It is only necessary to remove them when consuming food and drinks or brushing your teeth.

Some customers have even claimed that they experienced reduced discomfort by wearing their aligners for longer periods of time.

However, if you accidentally forget to put them back in after eating or drinking something and then slip the aligners on later, you may feel your Invisalign hurts due to your teeth shifting – this can lead to pain until your mouth adjusts again with the help of these clear braces.

 

Start new aligners before bed to avoid Invisalign pain

To help reduce gum pain, insert your new aligners a few hours prior to bedtime. This gives your teeth time to adjust while you slumber and prevents the extra hassle of having to take them out when it’s time for meals. By sleeping through the initial adjustment period, you can ease into wearing them without much pain or discomfort. 

 

Stay on schedule

To ensure maximum comfort and expedited straightening results, you should follow the individualised plan that has been tailored to your specific needs. Don’t be tempted to accelerate your Invisalign journey by changing aligners before it’s time; this could cause more discomfort than necessary.

 

Rinse your mouth with salt water

Do you experience mouth sores with Invisalign? If so, saltwater can be used to clean the affected area. Merely swish it around your mouth and then spit it out for Invisalign pain relief.

 

Be patient

Initially, many people using Invisalign aligners will feel some sort of gum or tooth pain. But as your teeth begin to get accustomed to the clear aligners and shifting, you’ll observe a decrease in discomfort. Though it may be tempting to give up right away due to this initial soreness, if you endure it for several months, then your pain should have diminished completely or become significantly reduced.

 

Are your Invisalign aligners causing you discomfort? If so, then our compassionate dentists at My Local Dentists are ready to assist. We’ll look into what’s causing your pain and provide a cost-effective solution so that you can feel better in no time. Let us take care of your dental health. Call now to make an emergency appointment with us today.

 

 

 

References 

Invisible aligners for teeth
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/invisible-orthodontic-aligners#1

Does Invisalign hurt?
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/does-invisalign-hurt