In the first week of clear aligner treatment, the most common experiences are these: a mild feeling of tightness and sensitivity in the teeth, temporary lisping in speech, increased saliva, and the effort of getting used to putting the aligners in and taking them out. Most of these are expected signs of adjustment and ease after the first few days in most people. This page explains what you may encounter on the first day and during the first week, how this process repeats with each new aligner set, and when you should let your doctor know.
This information is general; the decision for you is made after an examination. If you are still learning what clear aligners are, you can start with the page what are clear aligners.
What happens on the first day of wearing clear aligners?
When the first aligner set is delivered, your doctor or the clinic team shows you in person how to put the aligners in and take them out. If attachments (small, tooth-colored bumps bonded to the teeth) are in your plan, they are usually placed on the same day or before delivery. When you put in the first aligner, it grips the teeth firmly; this is normal, because the aligner is designed to move the teeth a small step away from where they are.
In the first days you may notice the following:
- A feeling of pressure or tightness in the teeth and gums
- The aligner being hard to seat when you put it in and take it out, especially on the back teeth and over the attachments
- A foreign-object feeling on the tongue and lips that you are not used to
- Increased saliva
- Slight distortion of speech, especially of the s and sh sounds
All of this is part of your body and mouth getting acquainted with a new appliance. Because the aligner applies a constant but gentle force to the teeth and jaw tissues, it takes time in the first days for the tissues around the teeth to adapt to this force.
Do clear aligners cause pain, and how long does sensitivity last?
In most people, clear aligners cause not marked pain but mild to moderate sensitivity and a feeling of tightness. This feeling varies from person to person; some people barely notice it, while others may have difficulty chewing. Sensitivity usually becomes noticeable in the first few days after putting the aligner in and then eases. It would not be accurate to give an exact number of days; pain threshold, the amount of tooth movement and differences in the plan affect the duration.
General approaches that may help ease discomfort during this period are:
- Choosing soft foods; temporarily cutting back on hard and fibrous foods
- Finding relief with cold drinks or a cold application; remembering that only water should be drunk with the aligners in
- Not leaving the aligners out for long just because they are bothersome, since the more you take breaks, the harder and more uncomfortable later insertions can be
- If you keep experiencing discomfort, asking your doctor or pharmacist whether and how you can use pain medication
The choice and dose of medication vary according to the person's health condition, other medications they use and allergies; for this reason, no medication names or doses are given on this page.
How do clear aligners affect speech?
Because the aligner covers the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth as a thin layer, the tongue finds the area it is used to behind the teeth slightly narrower. For this reason, a slight lisp can occur when speaking, especially when making sounds such as s, sh, z and ch. This is a situation aligner wearers commonly encounter, and people usually adapt within a few days to a few weeks. As the tongue gets used to the new environment, speech returns to its former clarity in most people.
To speed up adjustment, you can try the following:
- Reading a book or newspaper aloud at home while you are alone
- Repeating words that feel difficult, pronouncing them slowly and clearly
- Rehearsing a few times with the aligners in before important speaking occasions such as presentations and meetings
For more detailed information on speaking and daily activities, you can look at our article speaking, sports and musical instruments with Invisalign. If the lisp still continues markedly after weeks, or if the edge of the aligner rubs the tongue, be sure to mention it at your check-up.
Are increased saliva and dry mouth normal?
Increased saliva in the mouth is common in the first days. The mouth perceives the aligner as a foreign object and may increase the activity of the salivary glands for a while. In most people this subsides on its own as adaptation takes place. In some people, on the contrary, a temporary feeling of dry mouth may occur. Drinking plenty of water during the day and drinking only water while the aligners are in will help you in this period. If dry mouth continues for a long time and bothers you, let your doctor know.
How do you get used to putting the aligners in and taking them out?
In the first week, putting the aligners in and taking them out takes a bit of skill. Within a few days this movement becomes automatic. The general principles are:
- Before putting the aligners in, make sure your teeth and hands are clean.
- Seat the aligner on the front teeth first, then place it by gently pressing toward the back teeth with your fingertips.
- Do not try to seat the aligner by biting it into place; this can strain both the aligner and your teeth.
- When taking it out, start from the back teeth on the side and slowly peel the aligner away from the edge; avoid pulling it out from the front teeth.
- Each time you take it out, put the aligner in its case; do not put it in a napkin or a pocket.
The technique for putting the aligners in and taking them out and the daily wear times are explained in detail on the page how to wear clear aligners. As a general framework, wearing aligners 20–22 hours a day is recommended; cutting this time short in the first week because of discomfort can slow the progress of treatment.
Do the first days repeat with every new aligner set?
Yes, in most people a mild feeling of tightness is experienced again in the first days whenever they move to a new aligner; however, this feeling is usually milder than with the first aligner, because the mouth is now used to wearing aligners. The aligner change frequency is determined by your doctor's plan; in most plans you move to a new aligner at seven to fourteen day intervals. With each change, the teeth go through a small cycle of rest and adjustment.
Some people find it more comfortable to put in the new aligner in the evening, because they spend the first hours, when sensitivity is highest, asleep. Follow your doctor's recommendation on what time to change your aligner. For the change routine, you can look at the page aligner change schedule.
What is normal in the first week, and when should you see the doctor?
| Situation | What does it usually mean? | What can be done? | When to let the doctor know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tightness and mild sensitivity in the teeth | The aligner applying force to the teeth; expected adjustment | Soft foods, cold drinks, wearing the aligners regularly | If the pain does not ease for days or disturbs sleep at night |
| Lisping in speech | The tongue getting used to the new environment | Reading aloud, repetition, patience | If it continues markedly even after weeks |
| Increased saliva | The mouth's reaction to a foreign object | Drinking water, giving it time | If bothersome dry mouth continues for long |
| Rubbing on the cheek or tongue, small sore | Soft tissues getting used to the edge of the aligner or attachment | Keeping the area clean; protective items recommended by the doctor | If the sore does not heal in about a week or gets bigger |
| Aligner does not fully seat in the first days | A feeling of tight fit or an air gap | Gently seating it with a chewie | If a marked gap remains all day |
| Crack or break in the aligner | Material damage | Stop using it and keep it in the case | Immediately; the doctor decides whether you go back to the previous aligner |
| Swelling, fever, widespread and severe pain | May be more than a sign of adjustment | Do not try to manage it on your own | Without delay |
What should you do if the aligner feels like it does not fully seat?
In the first days, the aligner not fully seating over the attachments, or a small gap being visible at its edge, is a frequently asked-about situation. The reason is usually that the aligner has not yet settled into place. Gently biting on a soft cylinder called an aligner chewie between the teeth for a few minutes can help the aligner seat. You can find information about these chewie products and how to use them on the page clear aligner care products.
If a marked gap continues even though you have worn the aligner regularly for a day or two, let your doctor know. For what to do in such fit problems and their possible causes, you can also look at the page clear aligner problems.
How do attachments feel in the first week?
Attachments add small bumps to the teeth; the tongue and cheek may find these bumps noticeable in the first days. Because the aligner grips firmly over the attachments, putting in and taking out the first aligner can be a little harder. The purpose of the attachment is to let the aligner move the tooth more effectively in the desired direction. You can read the article what are Invisalign attachments for detailed information. If an attachment appears to have fallen off or broken, do not continue treatment on your own; contact your clinic.
Practical tips that make the first week easier
- Plan your mealtimes before taking the aligners out; choose soft, easy-to-chew foods.
- Keep a case ready in your bag, at work and at home.
- Turn the sequence of taking out, eating, brushing and putting back in into a routine.
- In the first week, drink only water with the aligners in; other drinks and the eating and drinking rules are a separate topic that becomes more important as the process continues.
- Brush your teeth before putting the aligners in; the page how to clean clear aligners is a guide for the cleaning routine.
- Note any discomfort; describing to your doctor at the check-up which area has what kind of complaint makes it easier for them to manage the plan correctly.
If you would like to see what awaits you throughout treatment, the page how clear aligner treatment is done summarizes the general flow.
How is the first week followed at our clinic?
The Invisalign system is used at Funda Sarıkaya Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic. When the aligners are delivered, Funda Pekyılmaz Sarıkaya, specialist orthodontist (Uzm. Dt.), shows you in person the technique of putting them in and taking them out and the points to watch in the first days. If you have an adjustment problem, you can reach the clinic by phone at 0312 911 60 36 or via WhatsApp. The clinic is located at Park Oran Ofis in Oran, Çankaya, and is open Monday–Saturday, 09:00–20:00; fee and process information is given in writing after the examination and planning.