What to Expect With Clear Aligners
The prospect of starting treatment with clear aligners is exciting! Then, you actually begin wearing your aligner trays, and you’re surprised that it’s not exactly what you expected. We aim to help you prepare for treatment so the experience is less surprising and more encouraging, so you have the best chance of achieving the outcome you’ve been hoping for: a beautiful, straight smile. Read on to learn more.
Clear Aligners: Expectations vs. Reality
Discomfort: If you’re like most patients, you may expect clear aligners to feel like they’re simply sitting on your teeth. What you may not expect is the tightness and pressure they exert on your teeth, especially when you first start a new set of trays. The pressure is a good sign that your clear aligners are working. The pressure subsides as you get closer to starting a new set of trays, and the cycle continues as treatment progresses.
Speech: The moment you start talking with clear aligners, certain sounds may not be as clear as they would normally be. The “s” and “sh” sounds are usually the first ones you notice. Your tongue suddenly finds itself sharing space with a smooth, unfamiliar plastic tray. However, you should adapt quickly, so continue to speak normally and avoid overthinking the process to speed up your adjustment.
Removal: At first, removing and replacing your clear aligner trays may feel surprisingly clumsy. You might wonder if you’re doing it wrong or be afraid of damaging them. Rest assured that the plastic material is strong and flexible, making it difficult to damage them by simply handling them. By the end of the first week, most patients can remove and reinsert their trays without a second thought.
Eating: The biggest adjustment here is keeping track of how long the aligner trays are out of your mouth to stay within the recommended 20-22 hours of wear time. Additionally, many patients accidentally throw their clear aligners in the trash because they wrapped them in a napkin while eating. To prevent this, we recommend keeping the case with you at all times and using it whenever you remove your clear aligners to eat, drink, or brush your teeth.
Adjusting: Some patients notice extra saliva. Others notice dryness. Most feel hyper-aware of their mouth all day, every sensation slightly amplified because everything is new. What feels very present in the first few days tends to fade into the background by week two. Your lips, tongue, and cheeks all adapt, and what felt strange on day one usually feels unremarkable by day seven.
Tips for Beginners
A few things that help in the first few weeks of treatment with clear aligners include:
- Switch to a new set of trays at night so you sleep through the first few hours of pressure
- Keep a small toothbrush kit with you for eating out and to keep your mouth fresh day and night
- Speak normally rather than trying to hide the fact that you’re wearing clear aligners to get used to them faster
- Be patient with treatment and give yourself time to adjust to your clear aligners
Remember, the first week of treatment isn’t indicative of the entire experience. It’s just an introduction. Once you get through that early stretch, wearing clear aligners becomes second nature.
If you’re interested in learning more about clear aligners, call to schedule a consultation at our office located in Monroe, WI.
