Last Updated on April 21, 2024 by Gio Greenard

Do your Invisalign Aligners cause you to have sore cheeks, sore gums, or cut your tongue? If you’re experiencing discomfort when wearing your Invisalign trays, don’t worry. Keep reading to learn how to alleviate it.

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Contents

What are the Discomforts with Invisalign?

Basically, it is a tooth straightening treatment that is customized to fit perfectly to your teeth structure and form. The plastic device is inserted into your teeth to work the same way as the metal metal-braces we are used to. One of the amazing aspects of Invisalign treatment is its nearly invisible nature that makes patients feel comfortable wearing them.
Even though they are a preferred alternative to teeth straightening, it’s important to understand the issues concerning the use of these orthodontic tools. Let us look at some discomforts that patients experience when using them.

Irritated Tongue

It is not easy to notice how much your tongue can move until it started to get an irritation. A burning sensation can easily be felt at the tip or base of the tongue. The first few days of having the aligner can isolate the discomfort. Ensure that you inform your expert-orthodontist about the comfort so that verification can be done to verify the device’s location of malfunctions. More often, the patient’s tongue will have to adapt to the new device inside the mouth, and the feeling will go right away.

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Any tips or tricks for tongue irritation?

Hello! I just got my invisalign a few days ago and so far the only real issue I’m having is that my tongue is getting really cut up on the bottom left side. It doesn’t feel like the tray fits that tooth very well and it rubs against my tongue, making it very difficult to speak. Did this happen to other people and do you have any tips for dealing with it? Did it go away?

-They make a wax you can put on your trays along the edges. Just put the tray in, take a small piece of wax and warm between your fingers, then place it in the area where it is irritating. Works wonders! I still use it sometimes, and I am halfway through treatment. You can get the wax from your orthodontist or depending where you are, your local grocery.

– Currently dying from this situation! So far i’ve filed the edges down with a nail file, i’ve also tried Vaseline! At night or when i’m at home i take off a bit of cotton from a cotton ball and place it where its cutting me, works well! you could probably do wax, but i just got mine the other day and I kind of just used what i could find around the house lol

– The nail file trick worked like a charm for me! I’m at the end of my second set now and it doesn’t bother me at all anymore. The second set seemed to fit a lot better than the first though, so hopefully yours will get better!

Speech Issues

When Invisalign is installed to a patient’s mouth, they cover the upper and lower rows of teeth. They can also extend to the palate depending on the treatment type. When these straightening tools are worn at first, you will first feel as if your mouth is full. Your speech will start to sound different. You may begin with a lisp or a slurred speech. The good thing is that it will pass once you are used to wearing them. You will have to practice how to speak while you have them on. After some time, you will have a smooth speech and start sounding normal again.

Pain During Transition

There are cases when you remove the device a couple of times from your mouth. With traditional braces, this is not possible because they are fixed on a semi-permanent basis. Even though most of the patients appreciate this luxury, they also experience some level of discomfort when they are fixing or removing the aligners from the mouth, because the aligner is also added onto the oral cavity. The beauty is that since the gums and the teeth are in some way malleable, the discomfort is an indication that the aligner is working just fine.

Irritation of the Soft Tissue

It is easy for your palate, cheeks, and gums to be irritated by the edges of the Invisalign-devices. In most instances, the irritation will reduce once the teeth are moved to the correct positions. But the pain does not reduce; you can work with your professional orthodontist to fix the problem.
The orthodontist may need to trim or alter the edges of the device; this can be done after the expert has looked at the aligner, to determine that the overall function of the aligner is not compromised by the trimming on the edges. Once careful consultations are made, the aligner should feel comfortable going forward.

Overwhelming Pressure

You may notice a constant level of pressure also your oral cavity when your aligner is inserted into the mouth. It is important for you to know that this is an indication that your teeth are on their way to getting to their correct positions. If you visited an orthodontist who is specialized and trained in the use of these clear aligners, you should be notified that the treatment is heavily reliant on the controlled pressure so that the teeth can be aligned over time.
Once you have scheduled your time for installation, you may experience the pressure immediately you have them on. But once you get to sleep, you may not notice the pressure, and when morning comes, your mouth will feel less irritated.

Problems in Drinking and Eating

It may become tough to eat and drink with the aligners in place, but as you will be notified, it is better to remove them when you want to eat or drink. You can easily crack your devices with hard foodstuff; this makes it smart to remove the devices before meals. If it is insisted that you need to have the aligners at all times, eat only soft foods. Try taking soup, yogurt, and other simple foods that can slide easily on the aligners.

How to Reduce Invisalign-discomforts

There is a simple way in which you can fight off any weird feeling induced by the aligners; you have to wear the aligner as many times as you can. Once you wear them. The teeth realign to the position, and they stay on the fixed path. But when you remove the device, you will do a de-service to yourself by extending your treatment and in the end, make it more painful. Protect your mouth at all costs if you are playing sports. Additionally, avoid warping the device because it can increase the level of a bad feeling.

Consult with Oral Expert Dr. Panucci

There are different appointment schedules for each user. In most cases, a monthly visit will be suggested so that the straightening process is matched much closer. Use the appointments to speak about your concerns to the dental expert. Even though being uncomfortable is temporary, you may be given suggestions of over the counter medication to ensure that your pain levels are maintained.

You will get continuous updates from your oral expert about when the next set of aligners will have to replace the current aligners which have finished their work. If you follow the instructions provided, your treatment process can be short. Dr. Panucci is widely regarded as top-level in all orthodontic treatments. Contact us today because everyone should love to smile!

BEACH BRACES ORTHODONTICS
220 N. Aviation Blvd. Suite A
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 379-0006

What are the discomforts with Invisalign? | QUICK FACTS 2020

Dr Patricia Panucci

Dr Patti Panucci attended the University of Louisville School of Dentistry for four years, where she graduated with a DMD degree (May 2000) among the Top 10 in her class. Following that, she headed west to Los Angeles to complete her three-year residency at one of the top-ranked orthodontic programs in the country – the University of Southern California.

Along with her certificate in orthodontics, Dr. Panucci earned a master’s degree in craniofacial biology. During those three years, she fell in love with Southern California beach life and decided that this was where her future lay.