The teeth straightening can either be done with the use of invisible aligners or traditional braces. Invisible aligners help you to straighten your smile with proper orthodontic treatment. Any teen or adult can also correct their misaligned, crooked teeth using aligners. 

The question that arises in anyone’s mind is that, are invisible aligners painful? 

No, aligners are often advertised as being pain-free or, at the very least, less painful than metal braces. Here are tips for wearing aligners without any pain or discomfort.

7 Tips to Reduce Pain: 

1. Ensure your Aligner is Aligned Properly

When you place your aligners, make sure they are locked into place and pushed incorrectly. If your aligners aren’t appropriately seated over your teeth, they can feel discomfort and exert gentle pressure on your teeth. An improperly installed aligner may cause pain because it is pulling your teeth into the wrong position.

2. Avoid Crunchy and Chewy Foods

Avoid having crunchy foods a day after you put on new trays. Since that’s when your teeth are most sore, you should avoid eating hard foods like chewy or crunchy food because it can be painful when you chew them. 

So, try to eat a diet that primarily consists of soft foods.

3. Drink Cold Water

Drinking cool water helps gently numb the sore area. You can drink cool water while still wearing your clear aligners, so you don’t need to take them out. Avoid sugary drinks like soda or juice that can cause cavities and are harmful to your teeth. 

4. Change your Aligners Before Going to Bed

Many people who experience pain during invisible aligner treatment should try to switch to a new aligner. You can reduce the discomfort by changing to a new aligner before bed. This helps the mouth adjust during sleep so the pain will be lessened during the day.

When you are ready to start new aligners, place them a few hours before bed instead of in the morning. It helps your teeth time to become typical to their new position. It helps reduce pain as you sleep through the initial adjustment period and aren’t removing the aligners in and out to eat.

5. Floss Regularly

Daily flossing is most important throughout your life, but especially so during teeth straightening treatment. 

If your gums are bleeding, then it means you are not doing it often. Bleeding comes from irritants trapped under your gums and bothers them. The more you floss, the less it should be to irritate your gums and less bleeding.

6. Take Pain Relievers if Necessary 

Many patients report that their aligners feel pain with a soreness, numbness, or tenderness, most noticeable when putting the trays in or taking them out. 

Over-the-counter painkillers can also help, especially in the beginning of the treatment of invisible aligners. Different people do better or worse with other over-the-counter painkillers, so choose what works best for you. You can follow the directions printed on the bottle for pain relief.

7. Rinse with Saltwater

Sometimes sores can develop along the gums and cheeks as they adapt to tightened wires. Rinse for one minute with a warm saltwater solution will help reduce infection and alleviate soreness caused by the braces’ irritation.