Does Invisalign Hurt?
Your teeth are some of the strongest structures in your body. They perform the amazing functions of biting, chewing, and helping to form speech and sounds. Some people also use them for things they are not meant to do – like cutting string and plastic or cracking open tough nuts. So teeth have to be strong. When they are moved or realigned along the jaw through orthodontics, either through the Invisalign process or traditional braces, there is going to be some discomfort. But people often wonder: does Invisalign hurt? If so, how can I minimize discomfort?
The benefit with Invisalign orthodontics is that the discomfort is usually short-term and revolves around the new set of aligners you receive every two weeks. That minor pain comes from your teeth actually moving into their proper positions. With Invisalign, you do not experience pain from irritation, lacerations or punctures, because the plastic components of the aligners are inherently smooth.
How to Minimize Discomfort
When you receive your Invisalign trays, each one is custom designed to get your teeth to the next level of straight, on a schedule designed by professionals. Sticking to your custom plan is important, as is wearing your trays for 20 to 22 hours each day. If you are not wearing your trays properly and move on to the next tray, there might be quite a bit of discomfort. You may have to go back to the last set of trays, which would delay your straightening schedule. But if you have been diligent about wearing your Invisalign trays, this period of discomfort should be brief and can be helped by taking Ibuprofen.
Comments from Real Invisalign Users
Here are some comments from Invisalign users:
“I feel the [tray] pushing on my teeth but there has been no pain. The first few days I had an oral fixation on [the aligner] and examined the edges of it constantly with my tongue. DO NOT DO THIS, just leave it alone. The tip of my tongue became very sore. No pain whatsoever when eating, although I do enjoy removing Invisalign a few times a day to eat. That I feel is a big advantage over traditional braces.”
“When I first got the trays, the first few days are the WORST and it’s hard to get used to. But the pain subsides with a day or two and Ibuprofen really helps. Now when I switch aligner trays after 2 weeks, I always do so in the evening with an Ibuprofen, and I am fine.”
Learn More About Invisalign
Moving teeth from one position to another is not like rearranging the living room. They are teeth, they have roots and they want to stay where they are. If you want them in a better place, either for looks or for health or both, they are going to need some “tough love.” If you’re still worried about whether or not Invisalign will hurt, talk to our dentists about the wonderful advantages of Invisalign. For more information, call us at 916-589-6462, make an appointment with our website, or stop by the office at 4350 Marconi Avenue, Suite 100. Get your teeth moving in the right direction – straight and as perfect as possible — with Invisalign!
