Getting teeth aligners can be an exciting experience especially if you’ve dreamed about having straightened teeth for a long time. Nevertheless, you must prepare yourself for some level of pain and discomfort during teeth aligner therapy. Fortunately, there are various ways to manage the pain and discomfort that comes with the treatment process. Let’s go through 9 tips to help you manage pain and discomfort during teeth aligner treatment.
1. Always Use Your Aligners as Directed: It is important to stick to the schedule provided by your orthodontist. Only remove your aligners when necessary, for instance, when eating, brushing, or flossing. This will assist you in adapting to the aligners faster and reduce any pain and discomfort.
2. Soak Your Aligners in Warm Water: When your teeth aligners are brand new, they may feel tight and challenging to wear. Luckily, soaking your aligners in warm water for several minutes can make them more pliable, allowing them to fit more comfortably over your teeth, thus reducing pain.
3. Don’t Eat Hard, Crunchy, or Chewy Foods: Eating hard or crunchy foods can damage your teeth and cause them to fit poorly. Soft food choices are much more comfortable to eat with aligners and can reduce the pain and discomfort commonly associated with the process.
4. Get Plenty of Water: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can significantly relieve the pain and discomfort caused by teeth aligners. Dry mouth and dehydration can make wearing aligners uncomfortable.
5. Use Orthodontic Wax: Orthodontic wax is designed explicitly to fit over your aligners and reduce discomfort by creating a softer barrier. If you’re experiencing any pain and discomfort from wearing your aligners, apply a small pea-sized amount of orthodontic wax to the problem areas.
6. Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medications: Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin, can help alleviate the pain and inflammation caused by teeth aligners.
7. Apply Cold Compresses: If you’re experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort, cold compresses may help relieve swelling and discomfort. Apply the compress to the affected area for about 15-20 minutes to reduce swelling and discomfort.
8. Leave Some Time Between Aligner Changes: Don’t rush into changing your dental aligners. Take the recommended time between changes because moving too quickly may cause pain and discomfort.
9. Communicate With Your Orthodontist About Any Concerns: If pain and discomfort persist, don’t hesitate to contact your orthodontist. There may be some adjustments that they can make to the aligner treatment plan to reduce the pain and discomfort to a tolerable level.
It is essential to remember that teeth aligner therapy is a marathon and not a sprint. Thus, it is essential to follow the prescribed instructions provided by your orthodontist and take the proper measures to manage pain and discomfort. Pain and discomfort will eventually subside, and you’ll be well on your way to having the beautiful smile you’ve always dreamed about. Remember, your orthodontist is always available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. By following these nine tips, wearing your dental aligners will be a little bit more comfortable for you. At makeO toothsi, once you receive the clear aligners your treatment will be virtually monitored throughout. At first there might be a little discomfort where the above tips can be helpful. However, once you get used to wearing the aligners there will be no pain or discomfort. Check out makeO toothsi today and start your painless teeth alignment journey.
