My New Invisalign Aligners Feel Tight; How Can I Wear Them Comfortably?

Invisalign has empowered countless patients to straighten their smiles with discreet and comfortable clear aligners that allow them to eat whatever they like during treatment. While most patients report that this orthodontic method is much smoother and less stressful than traditional braces, you may notice tightness around your teeth when you start wearing a new set of aligners. Here’s a brief guide to why this happens and how you can reduce this mild stress.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign works by using a customized sequence of clear aligners to gradually shift teeth into healthier and more visually pleasing arrangements. The patient must wear their aligners for twenty to twenty-two hours daily, so it’s best to remove them only for meals and oral hygiene sessions. Every two weeks or so, the patient will have to switch to the next set of aligners in the sequence, and each pair will pick the treatment up where the last left off. Eventually, the patient will be left with a beautifully realigned smile.

Why Is Wearing New Aligners Sometimes Uncomfortable?

Invisalign clear aligners work by exerting consistent directed pressure to gradually shift teeth into healthier positions, so a new set of aligners may seem quite snug when you first start wearing it. This can take the form of a sense of tightness or discomfort in the teeth, but it should be mild and fade away within the first day of wearing the new set. However, this temporary stress may make it difficult for some patients to sleep or concentrate.

How Can I Make Wearing a New Set of Aligners Comfortable?

Luckily, there are a few ways to help your teeth stay comfortable when switching to a new set of Invisalign clear aligners. These include:

• Closely adhering to your dentist’s treatment instructions.
• Avoiding hard or sticky foods after switching to a new set of aligners.
• Wearing your aligners as much as possible every day to ensure that your teeth have moved adequately when it’s time to switch to a new set.
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication when wearing a new set of Invisalign clear aligners for the first time to take the edge off the transition. Some patients find that switching to a new set and taking pain medication right before bed allows them to sleep through the worst of the mild discomfort.

Don’t let mild discomfort get in the way of your Invisalign treatment. By ensuring that you wear your aligners enough each day while also following your dentist’s other treatment instructions, you can keep your orthodontic process as complication-free as possible.

About the Practice

White Oak Dental offers exemplary oral health services to the community of Chaska. Led by Drs. April Korte and Mark Stapleton, the staff ensures that each patient enjoys sincere compassion and the utmost courtesy in a warm and welcoming office environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as Invisalign services. For more tips on staying comfortable during Invisalign treatment, contact the office online or dial (952) 448-2868.