When Will My Invisalign Stop Hurting? Tips To Reduce Discomfort

Invisalign is a great alternative to braces. Some of its benefits include a more subtle appearance, a lack of dietary restrictions, and faster overall treatment for most patients.

But while Invisalign is considered to be more comfortable than braces, the treatment can still cause you some discomfort as your teeth shift and move into the proper position. When will your Invisalign stop hurting, and how can you deal with discomfort? Find out in this guide from Brightside Family Dental.

Does Invisalign Ever Stop Hurting? What To Expect From Treatment

Unfortunately, your Invisalign treatment won’t ever be completely pain-free. Because your teeth are moving to new positions, a bit of discomfort should be expected throughout the process.

There’s good news, though. Usually, this discomfort is quite minor, and lasts only for a few days after switching to a new set of aligners. Each set of aligners is worn for about 2 weeks, so this means that you won’t feel any discomfort for most of your treatment.

Our Top Tips To Reduce Discomfort During Invisalign Treatment

If you’re experiencing some pain and discomfort during your Invisalign treatment due to switching to a new set of aligners, there are a few things you can do to help mitigate the pain until it fades in a couple of days. Here are some top tips from Brightside Family Dental.

• Switch to new aligners before bed – Switching to a new set of aligners before bed means that you’ll likely be asleep while your mouth adjusts to the new aligners, which can reduce the pain you feel the next day.
  
  
• Don’t take out your aligners for pain relief – You may be tempted to just take out your aligners for some relief. But you shouldn’t. You need to wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours per day. Staying consistent will help reduce your overall discomfort during the process, since your teeth will adjust more quickly.
  
  
• Try Invisalign “chewies” – “Chewies” are small pieces of foam that you can chew to make sure the aligners sit properly on your teeth, which can help you adjust to new aligners more easily. Some patients also find that chewing on them helps relieve pain by putting pressure on their teeth and gums.
  

• Eat soft foods for a few days after switching aligners – Avoid hard and crunchy foods when your teeth are feeling tender to reduce your discomfort, and reintroduce them to your diet after you adjust to your new set of aligners.
  
  
• Take pain medication – Over-the-counter medication like aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen can help with your pain and discomfort.
  

Interested In Invisalign In Chapel Hill? Contact Brightside Family Dental Today!

At Brightside Family Dental, Dr. Manish Mistry can help you explore your options for orthodontic correction in Chapel Hill, including Invisalign. If you think you could benefit from a straighter smile, contact us online or give us a call at (919) 391-0046 to schedule a consultation and get started right away.