This is the first day I started on my Invisalign treatment, my tongue is cut and I'm not feeling very comfortable.

Question

Are there any ways to get used to my aligners quickly?? My tongue is really sore

Victoria Veytsman, DDS · Answer

Be patient!  Starting any type of dental treatment (whether it be with braces, Invisalign, or other treatments) will not be completely comfortable at first. The first few days of having something foreign in your mouth are always an adjustment. The trays take a few days to really settle in and fit well. Bite on gauze or cotton throughout the day.  Doing this the first few days may help seat the trays properly. Pressure and time are what move teeth. After a few days if you're still uncomfortable it's possible there are some sharp edges they need to be adjusted.  You can ask your Invisalign dentist to smooth out the edges of the tray or an at home remedy we sometimes recommend is using a clean nail file and gently smoothing out a rough spot. Good luck to you!

Nelly Bezimyansky, DDS · Answer

The first day of aligners is the most uncomfortable.  It will get better in a few days.  I agree with all other comments - emory board or a nail file to smooth the edges (on the tongue side), and warm salt water rinses to let your mouth heal faster.  If persists after a few days, ask your doctor to check it out.  Rarely, there could be a defective aligner, and if it's really defective Invisalign can change it under warranty. Just by the time the new one arrives - it will be a week lost.

Jennifer S. Stachel, DMD · Answer

Dear ngxuan0925,Thank you for posting your question on Real Self. I will do my best to answer your question with the information provided. It isn't abnormal to have to adjust to the aligners at the very beginning.  I recommend taking a nail file to alleviate the rough spots on the aligners. You won't harm the aligners and it will help. Warm salt water rinses will help heal the sores quicker. I hope that this helps and good luck. Best,Dr. Jenn

Robert L. Knudson, DDS · Answer

Well, if you had braces, your lips would be begging for mercy right now and your teeth would hurt like crazy.  Your tongue is likely playing with the appliance a lot because it is something "strange" in your mouth.  If there is an edge that is a little rough, take an emery board or nail file and gently take the edge off.

Tracy Li Cheung, DDS, MS · Answer

Sometimes, the edges of the Invisalign trays are too thick and can cut your tongue. The best option is to see your Orthodontist who can thin out the edge of the trays for you. Your second option is to purchase a coarse emory board from a drugstore and bevel/file the edges of your tray so that they are more comfortable. Do not shorten the height of the plastic, simply thin the edge so that it does not poke your tongue.

Nadia Nizam, DDS · Answer

I feel your pain. I have been recommending Invisalign for my patients for the last six years but recently started using it for myself. As a patient, the first thing I noticed was the cuts on my tongue and cheek area. This is a common problem especially if you talk a lot during the day for work or are just a talkative person. I realized that some areas on the trays were rough so I took a nail file and just smoothed those parts. This helped a bit and for other areas that were not rough but it was just a matter for me getting use to them, I used wax to slowly get my tongue and cheek use to it. I will tell you that even if you don't do any of the above, it gets better at day three because your tongue and cheek develop a thicker skin and can handle the roughness better. Hang in there. Hope that helped. Good luckNadia Nizam

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