Do Teeth Aligners Hurt?

While all aligners can cause discomfort, experts say they are much less painful than traditional tooth-straightening solutions like braces. This is because aligners apply less force and don’t scrape sensitive mouth tissues. However, bundles of nerves are tucked into each tooth, and the pressure aligners apply to nudge teeth into proper positions can irritate these nerves, leading to some discomfort.

Why Aligners Can Cause Discomfort

While brushing and flossing, we only interact with a tiny part of our teeth. We may not feel the flick of the bristles or the slide of the floss. But our teeth are wired to send alarm signals when they experience a perceived threat.

A pulp chamber tucked within each tooth holds blood vessels and nerves. Hollow sections in tooth roots allow signals to pass from each tooth to your brain. Aligners can cause those signals to fly.

Pain doesn’t happen to everyone. Patient satisfaction studies suggest that less than a quarter of people who wear aligners have pain, and the wide majority of them report that they look better when the process is complete. But if you do have pain, it’s both natural and normal.

Although brushing and flossing only interact with a small portion of our teeth, and we may not feel the bristles or floss, our teeth are designed to send alarm signals when they detect a threat.

Each tooth contains a pulp chamber with blood vessels and nerves. Hollow sections in the tooth roots allow signals to travel from the tooth to the brain, and aligners can trigger these signals.

While not everyone experiences pain, patient satisfaction studies indicate that less than a quarter of aligner wearers report pain, with the majority stating they look better after the process. However, if you do experience pain, it is a natural and normal occurrence.

DID YOU KNOW

Aligners are an effective and often more affordable alternative to traditional braces for a variety of orthodontic concerns.

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Comparing Pain from Braces & Aligners

Plenty of tools can straighten teeth. Each method works a little differently, but they all cause discomfort. Aligners, however, do cause less pain than braces. Study after study has proven this fact.

Aligners are less painful than braces due to the following:

  • Construction: Brackets and wires lie on the surface of your teeth when you’re wearing braces, and all that hardware can scrape and rip up your cheeks and gums. Aligners have a smooth surface that protects the inside of your mouth.
  • Hygiene: Braces are glued to your teeth. A dentist must help you to remove them. Brushing around the wire isn’t always easy, and insufficient cleaning can lead to bacterial growth and inflammation. You can slip out your aligners for cleaning, so this issue is less likely.
  • Positioning: Aligners wrap around your teeth and push from several angles. Braces pull from one central spot at the front of your teeth. Indirect pressure like this can lead to enhanced pain signals.

If your teeth aren’t in the optimal position, you may need more help than aligners can provide. Significant dental corrections are best handled with braces. But if you need only mild or moderate help and are extremely worried about pain, aligners might be a better choice.

DID YOU KNOW

Aligners work for many orthodontic issues and can cost thousands less than braces.

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Common Causes of Aligner Discomfort

When you wear aligners, you:

  • Put clear aligners over your teeth. Each tray subtly differs from your natural smile.
  • Experience constant pressure. Every moment you wear your aligners, your teeth are gently pushed into the positions dictated by the trays.
  • Repeat the process. Every fortnight, you’ll begin this process anew.

While teeth are designed to move in response to pressure, your body isn’t accustomed to a shifting smile. These gentle adjustments might feel unusual or incorrect to your body, triggering pain signals that inform your brain of the changes occurring.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to serve as dental or other professional health advice and is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any condition or symptom. You should consult a dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.