How Painful Is Invisalign?

In general, change can be uncomfortable, but it’s often necessary for growth or improvement. That can be applied to almost anything in life, including braces. When you get braces, you can expect to feel a little uncomfortable since your teeth will be going through a change that will ultimately result in a major improvement in both your smile and confidence!

Does Invisalign Hurt?

It doesn’t tickle.

Although Invisalign is a discreet method of straightening your smile, the fact is that your teeth are still being shifted, which will inevitably cause tooth discomfort.

When you have braces, you can expect your teeth to move because pressure will be placed on them. No matter what kind of braces you get — traditional metal braces or clear braces — you’re still going to experience pressure in your mouth because that’s how you straighten your smile.

When you get Invisalign, it’s different than traditional metal braces. Rather than go into the orthodontist office every 4-8 weeks for a tightening, you’ll go in and get new aligners to fit your shifting smile.

The Good News About Invisalign

Ready for some good news on how to relieve tooth pain from invisalign?

While Invisalign can hurt, you won’t be in pain 24/7. Most of the time, you’ll only experience real pain when you put in new aligners because your mouth has to adjust to them. Fortunately, the pain goes away after a while. Everyone’s smile is different, and the amount of times you’ll have to do this depends on your specific circumstance.

Another benefit of these clear braces is that you can take the aligners out! Not only can you take them out, but you’re actually supposed to take them out at certain times. Although you do need to keep your aligners in 20-22 hours a day, your mouth can get a little break every so often. Assuming you brush and floss twice a day, and eat at least twice a day, that’s four times you can take your aligners out. Every time you eat, drink, brush, and floss, you should take your aligners out (the only exception is water).

Is It Worth It?

We think so. For starters, Invisalign is perfect for teens and adults who are self-conscious about their smile. If you want your teeth straightened but are worried about having visible braces, Invisalign is ideal. Treatments usually only take 12-18 months, and in that time, you’ll only experience pain every so often — it isn’t constant.

As they say, though, beauty is pain, and so is oral health sometimes. But despite the occasional pain that comes with wearing braces, we think the end result is well-worth it.

Transform Your Smile Today with Invisalign!

Before you worry about how badly Invisalign will hurt, you should find out if it’s a good fit for you. It can usually work well for teens and adults, but every smile is different and clear braces don’t always work for everyone. To find out if you can get Invisalign, schedule a free consultation today! At Henry Orthodontics, we offer many braces options, including Invisalign, to those in St. Augustine, St. Johns, and the surrounding FL communities.