As you complete your first two weeks of Invisalign treatment, you bust out the new set of aligners. They are a tight fit, and within a few minutes you feel your mouth going sore. Do not panic! This is completely normal—in fact, you will likely feel soreness for several days every time you switch aligners.
Even though it is not necessarily painful, you would like to take away some of the discomfort. In this post, you’ll learn why you feel uncomfortable in the first place and how you can ease some of your oral suffering.
Why Do Your Teeth Feel Sore?
Like icebergs, there is a lot more to teeth than just what you see on the surface. The tooth roots are embedded in the jawbone, so it requires quite a bit of force to move them within the arch. The aligners exert a small dose at a time. In other words, soreness indicates that the aligners are working—your teeth are shifting! Each new set represents taking one step closer on your journey to enjoying a perfectly straight smile.
How Can You Alleviate New Aligner Discomfort?
There are plenty of ways to make the days after switching to the next set easier. Here are just some of them:
Keep wearing the aligners. As tempting as it may be to remove your aligners for a while, this will only prolong your discomfort. The more consistently you wear your aligners, the sooner the soreness will subside.
Eat softer foods. For a few days following your transition to a new set of aligners, choose foods that are easier to bite and chew. Examples of these softer foods include mashed veggies, soup, yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, bananas, and eggs.
Take over-the-counter pain reliever. If your discomfort is distracting enough that you need relief, take advantage of OTC pain medication.
Apply a cold compress on your face. Some ice will numb the area temporarily, giving you a much needed respite.
Remember the soreness is temporary. By telling yourself your discomfort will not last forever and reminding yourself of the goal, you can look beyond the moment’s soreness and see that your time, efforts, and pain will be worth it in the end.
Ultimately, although you will likely go through a little bit of discomfort every time you progress to a new set of aligners, following these tips should help significantly. Before you know it, your treatment plan will be complete, and you will have a perfectly aligned smile!
About the Practice
At Pioneer Greens Dentistry, our highly trained dentists are proud to offer Invisalign treatment for patients who want to realign their teeth. At an initial consultation, they will examine your mouth to make sure you are a good candidate, take impressions of your teeth, and explain the treatment process to you clearly. If you would like to get started with Invisalign treatment with Dr. Chris Haag or Dr. Claire Haag, you may reach out to our Lincoln office at 402-483-7502 or go online here.