When you first get your invisible aligners, you'll be so excited to finally be doing something about your crooked smile that you won't be able to wait to pop them into place. Soon after, however, you'll likely come across some little issues that will make you realize that wearing Invisalign is not always as simple as it sounds. Luckily, you can easily work through these issues. Here's a look at some little problems you're likely to come across during your first week with Invisalign, and how to deal with them.
Your aligners make your jaw sore.
Like braces, Invisalign aligners work by pushing your teeth into a new position. This can result in some jaw soreness. Generally, the soreness will be at its worst during the first week or so of wearing a new set of aligners and will ease up once your teeth start to shift.
There are a few ways to ease your soreness when you switch to new aligners. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen or naproxen, is helpful when the pain is at its worst. However, you do not want to depend on these long-term since they can cause side effects like stomach bleeding. Applying a heating pad to your jaw can help ease more minor pains. You may also want try sipping some ginger tea, as ginger has been shown to relieve pain and inflammation.
You have trouble making certain sounds when speaking with your aligners in place.
Even though the aligners are thin, they can interfere a bit with your tongue placement when you speak. Sounds like "th" and "s" can be hard to say. The best way to work through this is to practice making these sounds when you are alone. Make a list of words you're having a tough time saying clearly, and then say them again and again when you're alone until you get them right. You'll slowly improve over time.
You forget to take the aligners out before eating.
You take a bite of food and immediately realize you forgot to remove your aligners. Now, you have to clean them. Sound familiar? Try setting an alarm for five minutes before you intent to eat a meal. For instance, if you have lunch at noon, set an alarm for 11:55. Take your aligners out when this alarm rings. In time, you'll get used to removing your aligners and will no longer need to set the alarm.
For more information, contact Port Orchard Dental Care Center or a similar location.
