Invisalign turned orthodontic treatment from an embarrassing experience for those who didn’t want something so obvious to something practical that left them with their confidence. However, if you’ve heard that braces hurt, you may ask yourself, “Does Invisalign hurt, too?” because if it does, you may wonder if it really is a good choice for you.
By understanding that Invisalign pain is minimal and only happens at certain times during treatment, you may feel more comfortable getting clear aligners. Plus, we have a few Invisalign tips to minimize discomfort.
How Invisalign Works
Before giving you a run-down of what to expect in terms of clear aligner discomfort through every step of the treatment, it’s helpful to know what happens during the treatment. Then, any Invisalign pain seems a bit more understandable as to why.
Invisalign and other orthodontic treatments like braces rely on pressure to reposition the teeth. That pressure will require adjustments to ensure the pressure continues. With Invisalign, the changes in force come from changing aligners because each one is slightly different from the previous one, with each being crafted to continuously move the teeth.
Discomfort Through All Invisalign Treatment Stages
The Invisalign treatment stages are one of the main factors that affect how your mouth feels.
What You May Feel When You Get the First Aligner
You may take a bit of time adjusting to clear aligners after you first get them. They may feel “weird” or awkward. You may notice they feel like something bulky on your teeth, or your bite might not feel the same. These feelings only last for the first few days of your treatment.
The typical “Invisalign pain” patients feel is more of a tight pressure than actual pain. Patients report it feels like something is hugging their teeth. Some individuals say their gums feel sore during this time. These are good signs because it means the clear aligners are doing their job. And fortunately, this initial discomfort only lasts for about 24 to 72 hours.
After you start using your first aligner, you may notice your teeth and gums feel sensitive, especially when you’re biting food or removing your aligners.
Typically, by four days after you start using your aligners, any of these symptoms will be significantly better.
We urge you to call us if you have severe or sharp pain, intense jaw pain, or bleeding gums. We may need to make adjustments to your treatment plan to stop the discomfort and ensure your treatment starts out on the right track.
What You May Feel During Aligner Changes
When discussing the answer to “Does Invisalign hurt?”, we have to note the aligner changes. You’ll usually have 20 to 30 different trays total. That said, some patients may only need 14, while others may need 48. How many you need will depend on the complexity of your case. Keep in mind that you’ll have one aligner for between one and two weeks.
Since the pressure changes with each aligner change, you may have some clear aligner discomfort after switching to a new tray. You may experience tightness or snugness for 24 to 48 hours after a change. As a little FYI, this feeling might not happen with every change or may be slightly different each time, but that doesn’t mean the treatment isn’t working.
Your gums may be sore. When you take your tray out after you get a new one, you may notice your teeth feel sore.
Significant swelling, discomfort, or sharp pain isn’t normal. You shouldn’t have persistent gum bleeding, either. The discomfort may continue close to the end of each tray, but it should improve by three to four days after a tray change. Always contact your orthodontist if you have any of these after an aligner change.
Invisalign Tips for a Comfortable Treatment
When you have a few Invisalign tips under your belt for when you get your first pair of aligners and put in the next set, you can make the process as comfortable as possible.
First off, soft foods are your friends during these times. Choose cottage cheese, yogurt, cantaloupe, bananas, steamed veggies, rice, or ground meat. Drink cold water, smoothies, or other beverages to soothe the soreness. Ice pops or ice cream could work as well. Just remember to take the aligners off before you eat or drink anything besides water.
If the pain is inconvenient, such as if it’s interfering with your normal routine, consider using an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen. Always consult with your physician first, though.
While orthodontic wax is generally thought of as a substance to use for braces treatment, you can use it for Invisalign as well. Apply it to the part of the aligners where you’re feeling irritation to prevent friction.
Consider placing an ice pack on your cheek on the outside. This will ease some swelling and soothe irritation.
If you’re ready for a straighter smile without metal in your mouth, Invisalign is a sound way to get beautifully aligned teeth. And the treatment might not be nearly as uncomfortable as you think. Plus, there are ways you can ease clear aligner discomfort.
Contact us for a consultation with Dr. Bernstein or another of our orthodontists today by calling 707.836.8360. We aim to make the entire experience of getting braces a pleasant one for you, even the financial end (P.S., we offer no-interest financing.)
FAQs
These are some of the questions we hear most often from our patients. We want to take a moment to answer your queries and encourage you to ask us any other questions you may have or if you’d like us to elaborate on any of these.
Does it hurt badly every time you change to a new tray?
It shouldn’t hurt badly when you change to a new tray or even when you first get your clear aligners. We recommend you contact us if you’re having severe pain.
Is pain normal seven days into Invisalign?
You may experience discomfort when you first get Invisalign. Generally, the worst of it is within the first few days, and it’ll continuously decrease over time. So, yes, it’s possible to have pain for a week. However, it should improve somewhat by that time.
What stage of Invisalign hurts the most?
After you first get Invisalign is when it has the potential to cause the most discomfort. You may experience discomfort when you change aligners as well.
How do I survive the first week of Invisalign?
The first week of Invisalign isn’t too bad, but since discomfort is possible, you’ll want to eat soft foods, use OTC pain relievers (if needed), and have ice packs ready.
What should I know before getting Invisalign?
Your adherence impacts your results and treatment duration immensely. During the first few days after starting the treatment and with each new set of aligners, you may have discomfort.