One of the reasons many patients choose to straighten their teeth with Invisalign is that they’re much more comfortable than traditional braces. Make no mistake, this is true – the smooth plastic helps ensure your soft oral tissue doesn’t get chafed or cut. But Invisalign does still move teeth by applying gradually increasing amounts of pressure, so you might experience some “new aligner soreness.”
Fortunately, relieving this discomfort is fairly simple! Here’s what you can do.
Wear Your Invisalign
It might seem like a strange tip to provide – after all, the whole point of an Invisalign treatment is to wear the aligners. There aren’t going to be many situations where they’re not in your mouth, right?
When you first receive your aligners, you might be tempted to take them off to periodically relieve your teeth from the tight pressure. This is fine if you’ve budgeted your 22-hour wear-time strategically, but it’s important to keep in mind that the more you wear Invisalign, the more you’ll get used to them.
Take OTC Pain Medicine
Over-the-counter pain medicines like ibuprofen and Tylenol are often effective at alleviating new aligner discomfort. It’s best to take them periodically throughout the day (in accordance with the dosage instructions, of course). That way, the medicine can “keep up” with the aches and better maintain your comfort.
Apply a Cold Compress
If you don’t have an “official” cold compress, you can make one by wrapping ice cubes or an ice pack in a towel. A frozen beverage or treat will work, too. In fact, pretty much anything you keep in your freezer will be cold enough to numb your sore jaw!
Stick to A Soft Food Diet
While your teeth are still tender, you might find it helpful to avoid hard, crunchy foods and stick to soft, squishy snacks. Things like ice cream, pudding, cooked pasta, steamed vegetables, and pancakes will be gentler on your pearly whites and jaw. Smoothies are also a great way to give your hardworking mouth a break!
Overall, many patients do find that Invisalign aches are much more tolerable than traditional braces discomfort. Following these tips should help you adjust to your new aligners and promote a positive treatment experience!
About the Author
Dr. Sikander Singh earned his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He firmly believes in personalized treatment plans that account for his patients’ unique needs, which is one of the many reasons he loves Invisalign as an orthodontic solution. If you’re worried about new aligner discomfort, Dr. Singh will gladly work with you to help ensure you have a positive treatment experience! To book your Invisalign consultation today, call 717-755-4143.
