Every smile responds differently to the first week of Invisalign treatment, so you might not notice anything. However, it doesn’t negate that this process has already begun to work its magic as soon as you put the first tray aligner in your mouth. It can take you a few weeks to see improvement, or you might see immediate, obvious benefits. Remember that your smile will reap the benefits upon receiving Invisalign near you.
Mild Tenderness is Normal
The good news is that you won’t have any noticeable Invisalign pain during your first week of treatment or at any other point. But with Invisalign, you should expect minor stiffness or soreness when you put in your initial set of aligners and periodically when transitioning to a new tray. It results from the constant, mild pressure your aligners apply to move your teeth into position. Your aligners are working if you experience any Invisalign soreness.
How long does the pain from Invisalign last? Your initial Invisalign tray will cause discomfort but will pass in less than a week. Tenderness with subsequent trays typically only lasts a day or two.
How to Manage Mild Invisalign Pain the First Week of Treatment?
- In the beginning, stick to items that need less chewing. Smoothies, milkshakes, yogurt, mashed potatoes, applesauce, ripe bananas, porridge, soup, scrambled eggs, and protein drinks are soft foods for hurting teeth. When the discomfort subsides, you can immediately resume your regular diet.
- In the evening, insert your first Invisalign tray. Make it a routine to put fresh aligners before bed throughout your treatment constantly. It will allow you to sleep through the first eight to ten hours of discomfort. Your aligners should be slightly looser, and your discomfort should be lessened when you get up in the morning.
- As often as necessary, rinse with saltwater. Pour a glass of warm water over a teaspoon of salt. Up until you finish the glass, swish the mixture in your mouth for about 30 seconds, then spit it out. If the edge of the aligners seems pressing on your lip or cheek, do this.
- Wear your aligners as usual. It can be tempting to stop wearing Invisalign if it hurts. However, the discomfort will subside more quickly the more you wear them. Wear the aligners for 22 hours every day, or even longer if you can, even if your teeth hurt.
- If the suggestions above don’t relieve your Invisalign pain, you can use an over-the-counter pain reliever (something you’d typically take for a headache).
- Call a dentist if a sharp edge on your Invisalign aligner is causing you pain, sores, or irritation. We can flatten it or show you how to do it yourself. An emery board nail file will frequently work to softly polish a bothersome region on your aligner.
Initial Tightness with Your Aligners
Every set of Invisalign aligners is made to shift teeth in a certain way. The aligners will feel extremely snug when you insert your first Invisalign tray and frequently while switching to a new set. The aligners will loosen up while you wear them, and your teeth will move.
Use your Invisalign chewies or biting sticks for 10 to 15 minutes daily to help the aligners fit better against your teeth. Invisalign aligners will fit perfectly on your teeth after doing this.
