How Painful Is Invisalign Treatment?

Mack Orthodontics is a comprehensive orthodontic care practice serving children, teens, and adults in the Bettendorf and Eldridge, IA areas. Dr. Steven J. Mack, D.D.S. offers quality treatment in a comfortable and professional environment.

In addition to traditional metal and ceramic braces, Mack Orthodontics offers Invisalign® and Invisalign Teen appliances for teeth straightening. Invisalign and Invisalign Teen utilize aligners that are individually customized. As the name implies, these aligners are almost invisible.

Are Invisalign Treatments Painful?

It is common for our patients to question whether our Eldridge and Bettendorf orthodontic treatments cause discomfort. It is important to understand that Invisalign appliances can cause some initial pain or soreness. However, the discomfort is generally less than that of conventional braces.

Many patients describe the Invisalign discomfort as pressure that occurs as the teeth gradually shift into their new positions. This can vary in intensity and is generally noticeable when you first insert the appliance and again when you switch to a new aligner tray.

How Can I Alleviate Invisalign Pain?

At our Bettendorf and Eldridge Invisalign facilities, we take pride in our compassionate care and want to do anything we can to reduce any pain from orthodontic treatments. There are several things you can do to minimize Invisalign discomfort.

Cold Compress

Applying a cold compress, such as an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables to your skin can help to reduce swelling and lessen any pain.

Alternatively, you can suck on an ice cube, being careful not to chew on the ice. You can also swish cold water inside your mouth. Any of these cold remedies can be applied or used while the aligners are in place.

Saltwater Rinse

Invisalign aligners can occasionally cause painful mouth sores if they rub against your gums or tongue. You can clean the sores by rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater and then spitting it out.

OTC Painkillers

Assuming you do not have a sensitivity to over-the-counter painkillers, you can use acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen to treat any pain or pressure you are experiencing during Eldridge Invisalign treatment. You may want to take painkillers right before you install a new aligner tray.

Stay on Schedule

Aligners are designed to be used for approximately 22 hours each day for the best results. It is recommended that you only remove them to eat and brush your teeth. Some patients say that they experience less pain by wearing their Invisalign aligners more consistently by reducing how often they remove them.

You also need to be patient by sticking to the individually prescribed Invisalign schedule. Rushing the process can cause discomfort by switching to a new aligner tray too soon.

Eldridge and Bettendorf Orthodontic Treatment

If you are considering traditional or Invisalign teeth straightening in the Eldridge and Bettendorf, IA areas, please consider Mack Orthodontics. You can contact us by phone at (563) 359-4686 or by email at [email protected].