I'm 10 days into my first Invisalign trays and have many places in the inside of my mouth and on my tongue that have "abrasions"--from contact with the sharp plastic edges of the trays. Talking and being facially expressive has now become painful. How long can I expect this to last? Will my surfaces develop "calluses"? Is there any way to smooth the edges of the trays?
I'm using dental wax on the edges of at least 4 areas of the trays, all facing out, so that helps with the insides of my lips, though it's tedious to place the wax after every insertion. Can't figure out what to do for my tongue and saw someone else asked about this, to no avail. Anbesol doesn't seem to help.
Then there's the problem of biting the inside of my lip when I'm eating. That seems to happen across from some of my lower attachments. Guess my brain hasn't quite figured out where my teeth are with these things sticking out off of them.
Please tell me this will pass! How long?!
non-tooth, inside-of-mouth pain
Moderator: bbsadmin
-
KUMonkeyMomma
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Upstate New York
I had the same issues for maybe the first week or two. Eventually your mouth gets used to it and learns how to speak or do things without rubbing as much.
As for making the edges less sharp - I have used the light side of a plain ole emery board (for filing fingernails) on the sharp edges. I had one that had a spot I had my dentist smooth out (it was right on the front tooth above an attachment so I couldn't get to it well with the emery board). I think I have had at least one area on every tray that rubbed on the inside of my lips or cheek that needed filing a bit.
Hope that helps!
As for making the edges less sharp - I have used the light side of a plain ole emery board (for filing fingernails) on the sharp edges. I had one that had a spot I had my dentist smooth out (it was right on the front tooth above an attachment so I couldn't get to it well with the emery board). I think I have had at least one area on every tray that rubbed on the inside of my lips or cheek that needed filing a bit.
Hope that helps!
Donna
Started treatment 9/2/09
Treatment finished 4/27/11
Started treatment 9/2/09
Treatment finished 4/27/11
Your Doctor should have told you this … Use a nail file to file down all the sharp and raised edges of the trays. You should do this every time you put in new ones. In case you wonder, this does not cause any damage to them. My ortho gave me a nail file in his start-up kit and instructed me to do this.
The pain or soreness on the tongue is also caused by the sharp or raised edges at the back of the trays. Once you file them down, the problems will go away.
I don’t have any biting problems so I guess like you mentioned, you probably need some time to adjust to having trays and attachments in your mouth.
Before I wear a new set of trays, I also soak them in denture cleaner and give them a thorough cleaning under cold water to get rid of the sterilization chemical residue (the tiny, white dusty stuff). They could cause dryness in your mouth, your throat and lips and in turn worsen any discomfort you have.
Hope you’ll feel better soon. Good Luck!
The pain or soreness on the tongue is also caused by the sharp or raised edges at the back of the trays. Once you file them down, the problems will go away.
I don’t have any biting problems so I guess like you mentioned, you probably need some time to adjust to having trays and attachments in your mouth.
Before I wear a new set of trays, I also soak them in denture cleaner and give them a thorough cleaning under cold water to get rid of the sterilization chemical residue (the tiny, white dusty stuff). They could cause dryness in your mouth, your throat and lips and in turn worsen any discomfort you have.
Hope you’ll feel better soon. Good Luck!
-
KUMonkeyMomma
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Upstate New York
I agree with Robin on giving them a good cleaning before hand too. I have noticed white residue on a lot of mine and noticed that if I cleaned them well before I put them in they didn't give me any issues like sore throat or stuffy nose, etc (i had previously been getting cold like symptoms every time I changed trays).
Donna
Started treatment 9/2/09
Treatment finished 4/27/11
Started treatment 9/2/09
Treatment finished 4/27/11
-
bella bocca
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:05 pm
nln-tooth, inside-of-mouth pain
Thank you SO MUCH for your responses! I really appreciate the support and practical advice on how to deal and what to expect. I am going to my orthodontist's office on Fri and will give them "constructive feedback" on how to provide better advice and service, and get some assisitance on the filing technique.
If your doctor didn’t tell you anything about filing, s/he may not know about it …
The technique is actually quite simple. Just hold your aligner with one hand and file with your other hand like when you file your nails… using mostly up & down motion. Do it gently & file down just enough to get rid of the rough/raised areas.
Take a good look at the troubled spots on your aligners now and feel them with your fingers so you’ll recognize them on your new trays. If you have to buy a nail file, get one with a pointy end so it’s easier to get to the tight spots.
The technique is actually quite simple. Just hold your aligner with one hand and file with your other hand like when you file your nails… using mostly up & down motion. Do it gently & file down just enough to get rid of the rough/raised areas.
Take a good look at the troubled spots on your aligners now and feel them with your fingers so you’ll recognize them on your new trays. If you have to buy a nail file, get one with a pointy end so it’s easier to get to the tight spots.