Does Invisalign® Hurt?

Let’s start off by saying that braces in general  tend to cause discomfort for people. When your speaking about traditional braces or Invisalign®, braces will typically hurt because the braces are shifting teeth from their original position straightening and improving one’s smile. This doesn’t mean that either your traditional braces or invisalign will hurt all the time. Typically, patients will feel slight discomfort upon a tightening of braces or a change in Invisalign® aligners. This discomfort will generally subside quickly.

Type of Discomfort and Remedies

Pain When Eating

Potential Discomfort – Patients can feel discomfort eating after switching to new aligners.Remedy – There are several options or combinations of options patients can use to reduce eating discomfort. Patients switch to softer foods to relieve biting pressure. Start the new set of aligners at bedtime. Your teeth will have several hours to adjust while you sleep and before you next meal. Taking over the counter pain relievers/anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen, Motrin or Advil and hour before meals can reduce tenderness and improve your eating experience (Speak with your dentist prior to make sure this is an appropriate solution for you).

Tooth Movement Discomfort

Potential Discomfort –  Approximately half of all Invisalign® patients report that they’ve experienced some type of minor pain such as a sense of pressure or tenderness during their treatment. Patients that experience tooth movement discomfort during an Invisalign® treatment will typically experience their discomfort when switching to a new aligner.Remedy – Switch to the new aligner before bedtime. Switching aligners prior to sleep will allow your teeth to adjust to the pressure at night; providing you with less discomfort in the morning. Also, you may want to consider over the counter pain relievers/anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen, Motrin or Advil (Speak with your dentist prior to make sure this is an appropriate solution for you).

Soft Tissue Discomfort

Potential Discomfort –  Whether you were traditional braces or Invisalign® aligners, you may experience soft tissue irritation. People typically experience more irritation with traditional braces however you can still feel some with Invisalign®. Invisalign® aligners can rub against your gums, cheek, and/or tongue irritating the soft tissue. Remedy – Smoothing the trim of the aligner can solve this discomfort. However, you should contact your dentist for advise. Dentists will typically make this adjustment themselves. If you attempt to smooth the edge yourself, you can potentially damage the aligner increasing the cost of your treatment and adding to additional time to your treatment plan.

Considering Invisalign®?

Invisalign® is a great option for people interested in straightening their teeth. Although there maybe some slight discomfort associated to this treatment, there is the same or more discomfort associated to traditional braces.  Invisalign®  will give you the ability to eat almost anything you choose, they are difficult for others to detect, they are removable and easier to clean. If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign®, please contact our office to schedule an appointment (305) 230-4041. We can set up a time for you to visit Dr. Hernandez and review your options. Dr. Hernandez is certified and trained to use Invisalign® in Miami for patients. We look forward to hearing from you.

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