My Invisalign retainers are making my mouth hurt. What can I do?

Question

My Invisalign retainers are approximately 10 years old. I've been wearing them every night all that time. I recently had the flu and couldn't wear them for maybe 4 or 5 nights. Now when I put them in my mouth aches. I'm trying to wear them all the time now. How long will the aching continue? Am I handling the situation correctly? I am 68 if that matters.

Chia-Hung Lin, DDS · Answer

If you were given vivera retainers, it is common to feel more pressure on the teeth initially than regular Aligners because vivera retainers are made with stronger materials which makes it stiffer, durable and less flexible. Often, it may take a week for you to get used to it.

If you feel the pressure is not going away after 1-2weeks of wearing, see your dentist or orthodontist for an evaluation as the problem may be the fit in the retainers.

Courtney L. Lavigne, DMD (retired) · Answer

Hi there,

Typically when retainers hurt after not wearing them, it means the teeth have moved slightly. You are handling it correctly. I would recommend wearing them until they once again fit passively without aching. At that point, you can resume nighttime wear so long as they continue to fit passively (without aching) at night. If you have any questions, I would return to your dentist with the retainers to have them take a look.

Best of luck!

My Invisalign retainers are making my mouth hurt. What can I do?

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My Invisalign retainers are making my mouth hurt. What can I do?

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Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.