Have you recently started wearing Invisalign aligners to address your crooked teeth? Congratulations on taking a big step towards a happier and healthier smile! However, you might be struggling to feel excited right off the bat as you begin to notice that wearing your new aligners isn’t very comfortable at first. Don’t worry, though—this new aligner discomfort is temporary and quite easy to manage. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
1. Swap to Your New Trays at Night
You don’t wear the same Invisalign aligners throughout your whole treatment; you swap to a new set about every two weeks to match your treatment’s progress. It’s crucial that you begin wearing your new trays exactly when instructed—and it’s true that for the first few hours, things may feel even more sore and sensitive since the new aligners will be snug. It’s generally best to swap to your new trays at nighttime before going to bed, so that you’re able to sleep through those first several hours when things feel the most uncomfortable. By morning, you should be far less sore!
2. Use Gentle Cold Compresses
Just like how you’d put ice on a sprained ankle or sore shoulder, applying a cold compress to your cheeks can work wonders for reducing clear aligner discomfort. You can wrap a few ice cubes in a clean cloth or use a cold gel pack; even a frozen bag of veggies can do the trick. Repeat this as needed, especially after putting your aligners back in.
3. Stick to a Soft Foods Diet
When your mouth is adjusting, you might not feel like eating anything that’s hard, crunchy, or requires extra chewing—and that’s perfectly okay! Even though Invisalign doesn’t come with the same dietary restrictions as braces, it’s still wise to eat only soft or liquid foods whenever your mouth is feeling sore from the aligners. Mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soup, broth, protein shakes, smoothies, boiled pasta and rice, and other similar items are all easy-to-prepare and even easier to eat.
It’s also worth mentioning that since your Invisalign trays can trap bacteria and food debris against your teeth, oral hygiene is as important as ever during your treatment—cavities don’t just cause discomfort, but they also cause setbacks. In any case, don’t let any discomfort or soreness demotivate you; it’s a very small, temporary price to pay for your future smile!
About the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Nina Khedkar, our team here at Simply Orthodontics has proudly served those in Randolph and the surrounding areas for several years. We offer a large variety of orthodontic treatments for patients of all ages, including Invisalign clear aligners, traditional metal braces, and more. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to give us a call or reach out online for more information or assistance. Telephone: (781) 767-7200.
Follow Us