Starting Invisalign®: A Look at What Awaits You

Anytime you encounter a new process or phase in your life, it can be intimidating and hard to know what’s “normal”. To help make your orthodontic treatment journey easier, our Greater Jacksonville, FL, Invisalign® dentist can brief you before you receive your first set of clear aligners, as well as throughout each stage of progress.

Here are 4 things we like our patients to be aware of as they start wearing Invisalign.

Taking the Invisalign Leap 

It’s important to remember that just because you’ve chosen Invisalign, it doesn’t mean there are no rules. Sure, you don’t have metal brackets or wires on your teeth, but the absence of these components can translate into more responsibility on your end.

For example, brackets are bonded to your teeth and can only be removed by an orthodontist. Wires are affixed to the brackets and help apply pressure to your teeth throughout your treatment. All in all, you don’t have to worry about much as they’ll remain on your teeth and get the job done in the background.

On the other hand, aligners can be removed for eating, drinking beverages that aren’t water, flossing, and brushing teeth. Their removability can tempt many wearers to not put them back in place, but this will result in consequences such as delayed progress. If you choose Invisalign aligners, you must wear them for at least 22 hours a day for your treatment to go as planned.

Your First Week of Invisalign May Reveal:

1. A Change in How You Sound When You Talk 

Anyone that’s ever worn a retainer or mouth guard knows that your speech becomes slightly slurred when the oral appliance is in place. Wearing Invisalign aligners is better than that experience as the aligners themselves are a much thinner plastic, but a small lisp can still occur.

Fortunately, this lisp should disappear after the first week, but you will need to practice in order to overcome the awkwardness of the trays in your mouth.

Similar to dentures, aligners will feel foreign in the beginning. Dr. Marino suggests you try reading aloud to yourself, singing a song you love, or simply chat with family and friends. The more you talk, the faster you’ll sound like yourself again.

2. Some Soreness in Your Teeth or Jaw

The road to straighter teeth generally involves some discomfort because, well, your teeth are being moved into new positions. Though it should never be extreme pain, it’s completely natural to feel mild tenderness when starting Invisalign or switching to a new set of trays during your treatment.

For that first week, any minor soreness that exists should dissipate before you enter the second week. Moving forward, you can expect a lesser form of that discomfort to stick around for only a day or two. Dr. Marino recommends eating softer foods for a few days when this happens, putting in trays at night to avoid daytime irritation, and using over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.

Above all else, keep wearing your aligners and don’t take them out just because you’re not enjoying the feeling. It’s tough, but you’ll thank yourself later for your determination now.

3. Less Daytime Snacking 

Meeting the minimum 22 hours a day of wear is crucial to your treatment. Skimping on how much you have your aligners in place will only sabotage your own progress and waste precious time. Because you’ll have your aligners in this much, you may notice that you’re more deliberate with your meals and random snacking becomes a thing of the past.

In short, munching on chips or candy is not as easy as it used to be. Now, you have to take your trays out, eat what you’d like, clean your teeth thoroughly, and pop the aligners back in place. This can make you increasingly aware of how much you snack outside of larger meals and depending on how you look at it, can help you make more conscious food choices.

4. How Much You Need to Practice Taking Aligners In & Out 

What could be so difficult about putting in and removing aligners? You’d be surprised if you’re not used to the task. The entire thing can be further complicated if you have attachments bonded to your teeth but there’s no need to worry, you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.

Make sure you apply gentle pressure (don’t bite down) onto each tray as you insert them over upper and lower teeth. Fully seat the aligners using your thumbs and double check they’ve snapped over your molars. You can use bite sticks or “chewies” to ensure the aligners are tight enough and where they need to be.

Set Up an Invisalign Consultation

Our Invisalign dentist serving Orange Park and Greater Jacksonville, FL, has the expertise necessary to straighten teeth and correct misaligned bites. Dr. Marino encourages you to give Marino Family Dentistry a call today at (904) 269-2185 or request an appointment online if you’re ready to discuss your smile.