Anyone who has worn any type of braces before can tell you the simple truth: it hurts, at least for a few days!
Eating crunchy chips or vegetable stalks can be an agonising experience for the first few days of wearing invisible braces as your teeth adjust to your new aligners.
So if clear aligners hurt, are they even worth the pain at all?
Where does the pain come from?
The pain comes from the pressure that your clear aligners apply on your teeth. You typically only feel it when you’re wearing the aligners or when you’re putting them on or taking them off. You might also feel pain each time you change to a new set of aligners as they apply new pressure to gradually move your teeth into a straight position.
Sometimes, clear aligners hurt because they also irritate the soft tissues in your gums by rubbing against them, although they are typically less irritating than metal braces. If you find that your aligners are rubbing against your gums, you can ask your dentist if they can trim the aligners for you. Avoid doing this yourself because you might damage your aligners or trim them to the point where they lose their effectiveness.
No pain, no gain?
There is a famous quote by a U.S. Marine officer who said, “Pain is weakness leaving the body.”
Some people look for that feeling of sore muscles the day after a workout to know if they pushed themselves enough physically. Similarly, sore teeth means that your aligners are applying enough pressure on your teeth so that they can start shifting into straighter positions – for a smile that will last you for the long term.
This doesn’t mean that you should ignore any unusual pain.
Just like sharp or intense pain in the muscles can mean you might have injured yourself during a workout, if your clear aligners hurt intensely, that can mean your aligners do not fit properly or that they may be cutting into your gums. A dentist can help you get a new set of aligners or shave down the open ends so that they don’t cut into your gums.
But otherwise, some soreness or pain is a good sign that your aligners are working properly to shift your teeth into new positions. The pain is temporary and at the end of your invisible braces journey you have a permanent set of straighter teeth and a beautiful smile for the rest of your life.
Tips to ease the pain
Wear a new set of aligners just before you go to sleep so that your teeth can get used to them overnight – and you’ll wake up with less soreness.
Avoid eating anything hard or crunchy for the first few days when you’re wearing a new set of aligners. Don’t clench your teeth if you can as that can cause you to feel pain.
The pain should go away after a few days as you work your way to your new smile.
Pain Is Temporary, But Results Are Forever
ZenyumClear™ Aligners unleash your brightest smile.
