Invisalign may be easier on your mouth than traditional metal braces; however, wearing Invisalign aligners is still an adjustment. That adjustment can be easier if you have a few strategies for adjusting to wearing Invisalign aligners on hand to employ.

Tip #1: Take Care of Your Tongue

When you put on your aligners, your tongue is naturally going to want to touch them. Your tongue will also have to get used to the plastic edges on the aligners, which can be a little rough on your gentle tongue. Your tongue is going to have to get a little bit tougher to handle the rough plastic edges.

To help with this process, you can ask your orthodontist to file down any really jagged or rough parts of your retainers. You can also put dental wax on the edges of the retainers to make the transition easier on your tongue. You should also keep some mouthwash that is peroxide-based on hand, so you can use it to provide pain relief to your tongue as they adjust to wearing aligners.  

Tip #2: Treat the Pain

Wearing Invisalign aligners is not a pain-free process. The aligners are working to slowly move your teeth into the best possible position for your mouth, resulting in a little bit of pain for you. Luckily, there are steps you can take to reduce the pain.

You are going to want to ask your orthodontist to teach you a few different chewing exercises. You should do these chewing exercises each time you put your trays back in. These exercises will help with your treatment plan and your pain. You can use Styrofoam chewies to help with this process; be sure to keep them clean.

Tip #3: Track Daily Wear Time

Finally, you are going to want to track your daily wear time. Tracking your daily wear time will allow you to see how long you are wearing your aligners. Additionally, tracking your wear time can help give you a sense of accomplishment and progress. You can use mobile apps to track your wear time, making this process easier than ever.

To get used to wearing your Invisalign aligners, you will want to take care of your tongue, treat the pain with chewing exercises, and track the amount of time you wear your aligners. The first two tips will make the process easier on the body, and the last tip will help you mentally adjust and celebrate your success with wearing your aligners. For more insight, contact dentists who offer Invisalign treatment.