It seems as though Invisalign is taking over the world of orthodontics, though many still wonder if it is the real deal (it is). If you’re seriously considering it for your dental needs, you are going to find yourself with this all-too-common question: is Invisalign painful? Let’s take a look.
So, is Invisalign actually painful?
Everyone’s pain threshold is going to be a little different. However, most people don’t find that Invisalign is painful. It can sometimes be a little painful in the first few days of adjusting to the aligner, but it doesn’t last very long. Here’s what most people find when they talk about pain with their aligner:
Difficulty chewing:
Even though your aligners are out when you chew, the pressure they exert is often painful when it comes to chewing. You’ll want to stick to soft foods and liquids as much as possible. This will go away as your teeth adjust. As frustrating as it sounds: the more that you wear them the faster it will go away.
Pain in a small localised area:
As your aligners start to do their job, you’ll notice a few spots especially tender along your gums or even in an individual tooth. While painful, this is actually a good thing and it means that the aligners are working! This will shift as different parts of your device get to work.
General discomfort around the gums and jaw:
Sometimes the aligners can chafe. Most people notice this along the gumline and on the cheeks. You’ll want to get familiar with dental wax and use it liberally if you need to give your skin time to heal where it is chafing.
Pain tips when wearing Invisalign Aligners
Most people find that a lot of pain can be reduced drastically by drinking cold water or even sucking (carefully) on small ice cubes. Another pro tip is to put the new aligner in right before going to bed. Sometimes you can sleep through the worst of the pain and it’ll be like a reprieve!
Is there a time to be worried?
You may find that sometimes it switches from “good pain” to “bad pain”. Bad pain, in this situation, would be if you have difficulty chewing or swallowing or notice a really strong sensitivity to cold or hot foods. In these cases, you will want to call your specialist to make sure everything is ok.
Braces vs Invisalign: Pain
When you compare the two, Invisalign is significantly more comfortable than braces would be. Braces not only cause more pain around the teeth and gums during movement, but they also cause a lot more abrasion in the jaw, cheeks, and more.
Pain is always something to think about when you are looking at the idea of trying Invisalign, but it is reassuring to know that most of the pain isn’t going to cause a problem when it comes to the full term of having Invisalign as your first choice.
