Tips and Tricks

For your first week wearing clear aligners

Protect Your Tongue and Cheeks

Many people report experiencing soreness in their cheeks and tongue when they first start wearing clear aligners. The attachments rub against the tissues in your mouth, irritating and possibly even cutting if you are not careful. Wearing your aligners will protect the attachments, causing less friction against your cheeks. You may still feel some pain at first, but this sensation will quickly fade as your mouth gets used to the trays and the attachments. You can also rub wax on any sharp spots to keep them from damaging your oral tissues further.

Develop Good Oral Hygiene Habits

You must practice excellent oral hygiene during your Invisalign treatment to avoid tooth decay and gum disease. Be sure to:

Remove your trays every time you eat or drink anything other than water;
Brush and floss your teeth every time you eat or drink before putting your aligners back in your mouth;
Brush and floss your teeth when you wake up and before you go to bed;
Clean your aligners with soap, aligner cleaner and/or a dental pod (Dental Pod video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFNwkQcp2QP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link) daily;
Visit your dentist every six months for dental checkups.

Practice Speaking and Singing

Some people develop a slight lisp while they adjust to wearing clear aligners. To restore your everyday speech as quickly as possible, practice speaking and singing often during those first few weeks. You can do this with friends and family or by yourself. The more practice you get, the more you will get used to forming words with the trays in your mouth. Eventually, you can speak and sing just like you used to before your treatment began.

Try Soft Foods

Orthodontic treatment with clear aligners does not require a long-term special diet, but sticking to soft foods for the first week of treatment may help alleviate some of the soreness during the adjustment period. Try eating soups and stews, pudding, ice cream, and pasta to make yourself more comfortable while you get used to your trays. After a few days, reintroduce some hard foods into your diet. Gradually keep adding hard foods as your chewing tolerance increases.

Wear Them as Much as Possible

Successful Invisalign treatment requires that the trays be worn for at least 22 hours daily. This means you should rarely have yours out of your mouth unless you eat. It may be uncomfortable to wear your aligners, but pushing yourself to keep them on is essential. Practice wearing them as much as possible in the first few days, only giving yourself brief breaks when absolutely necessary. This will help you build up your tolerance for the discomfort more quickly.

Treat Your Pain and Discomfort

There is no need to suffer the pain of wearing clear aligners without relief. Use pain medications as needed to get the discomfort under control. You will not need to do this for the entire treatment duration, so this strategy has no long-term risk. It simply helps keep you comfortable while your mouth adjusts.

Use Chewies to Seat Your Aligners Properly

Seating your aligners snugly against your teeth will make them less uncomfortable to wear. You can do this by biting the chewies we gave you few times each time you put your trays in your mouth. Remember to clean your chewies regularly! Without diligent hygiene, you may spread harmful bacteria around your mouth.

Remove Your Clear Aligners Safely

While you can use your fingers to remove your clear aligner trays, this may not be optimal. Many people find it difficult to get a good grip on their trays with their hands alone, leading to uncomfortable struggles and even gum injuries from their fingernails. If you have difficulty removing your aligners, small plastic hook tools can be used to help you. Always take your time and be gentle with your aligners and your teeth and gums.

Keep Your Aligners Clean (And Clear)

Aligner trays can easily become stained if they are not cleaned properly, ruining the discreet appearance that makes this form of treatment so popular. Clean yours regularly to keep them stain-free. Take special care to avoid exposing them to dark-colored food and drinks like grape juice, coffee, tea, or tomato sauce. If you accidentally consume any of these items with your aligners still in your mouth, clean them immediately to avoid letting the stains set in.