The first week of Invisalign treatment is different for every smile, and you may not notice much. That doesn’t mean that Invisalign® hasn’t already started working to straighten your smile. Invisalign begins working as soon as you place the first tray aligners in your mouth. Every smile is unique so that you may experience almost immediate, visible results, or it may be several weeks before you notice improvement.

What You Get to Start Your Treatment Plan

Before you begin treatment, the doctor completes their examination and develops a treatment plan. For Invisalign, your plan will include a series of tray aligners that you cycle through about every two weeks. You will be given several sequenced sets at each visit. You will also get instructions on how to wear and care for your trays.

The trays should be worn for the prescribed time each day. You can remove your trays for eating, drinking, and oral hygiene. The technician may ask you to put the first set of trays in and take them out several times to ensure you know the correct way to insert and remove them. Depending on your treatment plan, you may switch to a new set of trays every week to two weeks. You should not discard your previous trays but safely put them away.

There are no dietary restrictions with Invisalign, but some patients prefer softer foods when beginning treatment and for a day or two after each tray change. When your teeth move, they may become slightly loose (that is normal) and cause discomfort while eating foods that are more difficult to chew.

What to Expect During the First Week of Invisalign

You will likely be a bit sore during the first week of Invisalign. The trays will be snug, and begin moving your teeth immediately, which can cause tenderness. During the first week, you may want to eat a softer diet. Although there are no dietary restrictions with Invisalign treatment, your teeth may be slightly loose, which can cause discomfort when chewing.

Practice taking your aligners out carefully before eating and drinking. You should only drink plain water with the aligners in place. Always be sure to brush before replacing your aligners after a meal. The soreness should be gone within a couple of days as your teeth become accustomed to their new positions. You will switch to a new set of trays every two weeks so that the tenderness may return briefly with each new set of aligners.

You may notice difficulty speaking when you first start wearing your trays, causing a slight lisp. As your mouth grows accustomed to the trays, this will clear and disappear. Try to avoid running your tongue over the aligners. This is a normal reaction from having something new in your mouth, but it can cause your tongue to be sore and create rub spots. If you find the aligners rubbing on the inside of your mouth, causing irritation, please notify the office at Freehold Orthodontics. The doctor can trim the edges for you to make the trays fit better to alleviate the chafing.

If you have trouble at first, wear them as much as possible, taking short breaks throughout the day. Work up to having your trays in place for the required 20 to 22 hours by the end of the first week.

Weeks Two Thru Four

Some patients report seeing changes by the second week, although the average for noticeable changes is four to six weeks. The typical treatment plan prescribes a new set of trays every two weeks. Some fast-track programs change trays weekly. Regardless of your tray change rotation, you should be accustomed to your aligners by the second week.

If you were experiencing a slight lisp while speaking, that should be gone or mostly gone. You may experience additional discomfort as you shift into new sets of aligners, but the transition should be mild. By this time, you should also be wearing your trays for 22 hours each day.

Science tells us that it takes 21 days to form new habits. If you have maintained a regular oral hygiene schedule, it should be a habit by now. Keep up the great work!

Beyond the First Month

Some Invisalign treatment plans can be as short as six months. However, the average length is from 12 to 18 months. Once you see improvement, it can be easy to “forget” to wear your trays as prescribed. Please continue with your treatment plan throughout the entire period. Invisalign works to shift your teeth slowly, and the treatment plan is formulated to apply gentle pressure over time to make that happen. Each slight adjustment leads to another in the series to create your perfect smile.

Staying on Schedule with Tray Changes

Keeping up with the daily wear and tray changes every two weeks is an integral part of the overall treatment plan. Remembering these three things will help:

Wear your trays for the prescribed number of hours each day
Make tray changes to the next set of trays on schedule
Be patient, persistent, and don’t give up

It can be challenging to continue doing something when you see little or no progress. Always remember that Invisalign works slowly, over time, to correct your alignment. Keep that final 3D model in mind as you progress through treatment. Your dream smile is coming!

What to Do If You Experience Pain

You should experience only minor discomfort during your treatment. If you have intense pain, please call the office. For minor discomfort, you may try the following quick remedies:

Salt water rinses
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Eating softer foods
Dental wax for tender spots

You will likely experience the most significant discomfort during the first week. This is an adjustment period where your mouth becomes used to the trays, and your teeth are pushed with constant, gentle pressure.

Enjoying Your New Smile

Welcome to the Invisalign journey! At the end of this pleasant adventure, you will have a straight, healthy smile. If you have questions or concerns during your treatment, please do not hesitate to contact our Freehold Orthodontics office at 732-896-2563. Our staff is always ready to assist you. Whether in your first week of Invisalign or your tenth, we are here for you.