Having mild pain or sore teeth during the course of wearing your invisible aligners is completely normal. Think about how you feel after a good workout at the gym – a bit sore, but you also know that’s a positive thing because it means your muscles are working hard.
The same is true for your teeth. Mild pain or soreness for a few days is a sign that your aligners are working and your teeth are moving. They’re gently moving your teeth into your beautiful new smile.
Not everyone feels pain or soreness during the process of straightening their teeth, and that’s normal, too. But if you do, try these easy at-home remedies to alleviate pain and continue living your best life.
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Use your Chewies.
We include Chewies, with your aligners to help you get a tighter fit. Once you have your aligners in your mouth, put a Chewie between your teeth, bite down and squeeze for 30 seconds, release and repeat. Chew for 10 to 15 minutes at a time for 2 to 3 times per day until your aligners fit better.
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Change your aligners at night.
When it’s time to change to a new set of aligners, we recommend putting them in just before going to bed. You’ll have the whole night for your mouth to get used to the new fit and any tenderness or pain you feel might be completely gone in the morning.
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Continue regular dental check-ups.
We encourage all of our customers to continue visiting their regular dentists throughout their smile journey. Continue with dental cleanings and other treatments as necessary, as you usually would.
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Swish with warm salt water.
Sometimes, the aligner can rub a little and leave your mouth feeling a little sore. Salt can help soothe and heal mouth sores.The recipe: Add ½ teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of warm (not boiling!) water. Rinse the solution in your mouth and then spit it out. You can do this every 2 to 3 hours for 3 to 4 days. Keep brushing and flossing daily.
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Choose cold food.
There’s nothing like the cool comfort of a cold ice block or frozen fruit when your mouth feels tender. Just make sure to remove your aligners before you eat! Stick to a 100% real fruit ice block, keeping the sugar to a minimum and keeping your teeth healthy.
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Take some pain relief medication.
If you need to, consider taking some panadol or neurophen. The worst thing you can do is stop wearing them. Doing so makes it harder to put your aligners back in and means the pain will stick around longer. Get through the “wall” and your teeth will get to their goal faster and more comfortably.
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Apply an ice pack.
An ice pack works wonders on soothing inflammation and pain around your mouth
We’re sure you’ll agree: Once you see your amazing new smile, any minimal discomfort you might feel throughout the journey will be worth it.
Ready for a straighter, brighter smile? Get started today with our free 30-second Smile Assessment!
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