Orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign aligners, use pressure to gradually move one or more teeth into a new position. This tooth movement can lead to some discomfort as your mouth gets used to the process.
What Evidence Exists About Invisalign Aligners and Pain?
Different studies have reached the same basic conclusion that, in most cases, traditional braces, clear braces, and Invisalign clear aligners do not lead to significant levels of pain. However, some discomfort, including mild pain, can result when Invisalign aligners are first applied within the first week of wear.
We have summarized three of these Invisalign aligner studies below.
| Study | Findings |
| Source: The Angle Orthodontist “Discomfort associated with Invisalign and traditional brackets: A randomized, prospective trial” Year: 2017 | Both treatments demonstrated similar levels of initial discomfort. There were no significant sex differences. Patients in the traditional fixed appliances group reported significantly greater discomfort than patients in the aligner group during the first week of active treatment. Traditional patients also reported significantly more discomfort than aligner patients after the first and second monthly adjustment appointments. Discomfort after subsequent adjustments was consistently lower than after the initial bonding or aligner delivery appointments. Conclusion: “Patients treated with traditional fixed appliances reported greater discomfort and consumed more analgesics than patients treated with aligners.” |
| Source: Penn Dental Family Practice “Should I Worry About Invisible Braces Pain?” Year: 2019 | Within one week of using invisible braces, 83% of patients were already accustomed to their aligners. 35% of patients experienced no pain at all, while 54% experienced mild invisible braces pain while wearing aligners. The patients who experienced discomfort said it lasted for only two to three days after putting in their new set of aligners. When patients were interviewed, 89% were satisfied with the progress of treatment. Conclusions: “This study shows us that discomfort from invisible braces vary from person to person, but that any pain experienced will not be significant. Patients became accustomed to wearing invisible braces very quickly and were pleased with the progress of the therapy. Even among patients who did experience some discomfort from the pressure, this lasted a short time relative to the total treatment time for each tray (a maximum of three days out of 14).” |
| Source: National Institute of Health, National Library of Medicine “Pain level between clear aligners and fixed appliances: a systematic review” Year: 2020 | An analysis of seven articles was included. Most of the studies found that pain levels in patients treated with Invisalign were lower than those treated with conventional fixed appliances during the first days of treatment. Differences disappeared after that. No evidence was identified for other brands of clear aligners. Conclusions: “Based on a moderate level of certainty, orthodontic patients treated with Invisalign appear to feel lower levels of pain than those treated with fixed appliances during the first few days of treatment. Thereafter (up to 3 months), differences were not noted.” |
What Factors Can Influence Invisalign Discomfort?
There are two main kinds of discomfort you might experience when using Invisalign aligners. One is discomfort that occurs as your mouth adjusts to wearing aligners. The other is oral health problems that are not caused by the aligners but are affected when you wear them.
Some specific factors that can affect if and how much you experience pain include:
- Your pain tolerance
- Whether you have sensitive teeth or gums
- How tight the aligners fit
- Whether you are experiencing dental health problems like tooth decay or gum disease
What Kinds of Pain Do Not Come from Using Invisalign?
If you experience the following types of pain, it’s likely not a reaction to Invisalign treatment. Instead, it may indicate other medical conditions like tooth decay, gum disease, or another type of oral infection:
- Hot or cold sensitivity
- Sensitivity to sugary foods
- A bad taste in your mouth
- Bleeding teeth or gums
- Pain when eating, drinking, or swallowing food
- Pain accompanied by facial swelling
- Nerve or other severe pain
If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms or minor discomfort for an extended period, make an appointment with one of our dentists to see what the underlying problem is and treat it.
What Kinds of Pain Might I Experience with Invisalign?
While Invisalign may be more comfortable than metal braces, there’s still a chance that you may experience mild pain or discomfort. When asked to describe how Invisalign hurts, patients usually say that the sensation is more like tenderness than pain. Invisalign wearers also generally report that this mild discomfort subsides after about a week.
Many patients who use Invisalign have reported feeling discomfort in the following ways:
- Pain in just one tooth or different teeth. Mild pain or discomfort in one or more teeth is not necessarily a sign of anything wrong. In fact, this discomfort usually means the realignment process is taking place and is a sign that your Invisalign treatment is working as it should.
- Jaw and muscle aches. Jaw or muscle pain is usually a sign that you are still getting accustomed to the presence of Invisalign aligners in your mouth. This can lead to your jaw muscles and ligaments clenching while wearing them. This discomfort should go away over time.
- Tongue pain. As with your jaw muscles, your tongue can take a little time to get used to having Invisalign in your mouth, which can lead to minor irritation. This usually lasts only one or two days before your tongue becomes accustomed to the presence of the aligners.
How Long Does Invisalign Hurt?
Most Invisalign patients who experience discomfort say that the symptoms last from one to three days.
This temporary discomfort can happen each time you switch to a set of new Invisalign trays, which usually happens every couple of weeks. Over time, pain symptoms that occur when switching to a new set of aligners will lessen.
What Can I Do to Minimize Invisalign Discomfort?
What you can do to reduce any pain you may feel from wearing your aligners depends on where you are feeling pain and how intense the pain sensation is. Here are the most common ways that patients deal with Invisalign pain and discomfort or even prevent pain:
- Wear your aligners for the recommended time. For Invisalign to be most effective, you must wear them about 22 hours daily. The more you wear them, the more your mouth will get used to them, and the sooner feelings of pain or discomfort will subside.
- Bear with the tooth pain. Invisalign discomfort is usually mild and lasts only a few days. In this case, being patient as your teeth, gums, jaw, and tongue get used to the new reality of wearing your aligners is often all that is needed.
- Avoid biting heavily on the tooth or teeth that are feeling pain. You can sometimes ease Invisalign discomfort by chewing more on one side of your mouth to reduce pressure on the teeth that are realigning. Eating softer foods is another way to minimize discomfort.
- Apply a warm or cold compress or heat pack on your jaw. Doing this a few times daily can help with muscle soreness.
- Take an over-the-counter pain medication. Commercially available painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen can reduce minor pain or discomfort while your mouth adjusts to the presence of Invisalign aligners.
- Put orthodontic wax on the edges of the aligners. Gum pain can sometimes occur if the top edges of aligners cause friction, leading to irritation or even minor sores or ulcers. Apply a small amount of orthodontic wax to the sharp edges to relieve this discomfort. Alternatively, gently smooth the edges with a nail file or emery board. To treat any sores, use a saltwater rinse or an over-the-counter remedy like teething gel.
- When removing your clear dental aligners, only use your fingers and start from the molars. This can help alleviate discomfort if your new aligners feel too tight, which should only last for a day or two, if it happens at all. Call your orthodontist if you experience Invisalign pain when taking them out for longer than a few days.
- Try using Invisalign Chewies. Chewies are polymer devices that look like pencils or cotton rolls. Their purpose is to reduce air bubbles between your aligners and teeth, improving the aligner fit.
Still Have Questions? Call Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry About Invisalign Pain
Whether you use traditional braces or Invisalign aligners, pain or discomfort may be felt at the beginning of orthodontic treatment. Although Invisalign is often more comfortable to wear than braces, it can take some time and possibly some other adjustments before they become a pain-free experience.
Invisalign aligners can be preferred orthodontic treatments for many tooth alignment problems: they are removable, cost-competitive with braces, and often take less time to complete a course of treatment.
Even if some initial mild and temporary discomfort occurs at the start, the end result – healthier teeth and gums and a beautiful smile — is still well worth it for your long-term health, confidence, and overall sense of well-being.
From baby teeth to braces, Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry proudly serves Scottsdale’s pediatric dentistry needs from our conveniently located office at 10213 N. 92nd Street, Suite H-102, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258. We are a qualified Invisalign provider.
Our doors are open for all pediatric dental needs, including emergencies. If you’re not sure about Invisalign or have a question about child dentistry or orthodontics in general, just give us a call at (480) 422-4544. We also offer teledentistry or virtual consultations so that you can speak to a dentist from your smartphone, computer, or tablet.
Providing for kids’ dental needs is our greatest privilege, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to get the help you need.
