Why Can’t I Close My Mouth With Invisalign?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the question,”why can’t i close my mouth with invisalign” and cover topics like what is invisalign, types of dental issues that can be addressed by an invisalign, do invisalign braces help with teeth grinding, how do invisalign braces help with teeth grinding, considerations after invisalign braces, pros and cons of using invisalign and tips to reduce the discomfort of invisalign treatment during first few weeks of treatment.
Why Can’t I Close My Mouth With Invisalign?
You cannot close your mouth with invisalign because during the initial few days of invisalign treatment, your mouth becomes sore as a reaction to the new appliance in the mouth.
Not being able to close mouth with invisalign is a temporary problem and will eventually go away within a week of invisalign use.
If you are not able to close your mouth due to discomfort from sharp edges in invisalign, consult your orthodontist immediately to get sharp edges trimmed.
Regular mouth exercises such as chewing styrofoam chewie may help blood flow to teeth and gums and prove beneficial in healing the inability to close mouth.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a brand name for clear aligners or braces. It is considered to be more aesthetic and more comfortable in comparison to normal metal braces.
Invisalign are not completely invisible but may be less visible than other braces available.
What Are The Different Types Of Dental Issues That An Invisalign Can Address?
As per the claim of the brand, invisalign may be useful in addressing the following dental issues:
- Overbite and Underbite issues
- Crossbite issues
- Issues of Open Bite
- Gap between the teeth
- Overcrowding of the teeth
As per research studies, not much has been studied about the effectiveness of the invisalign and hence nothing much can be said on the brand claim due to lack of sufficient research data.
Do Invisalign Braces Help With Teeth Grinding?
Yes, braces do help with teeth grinding if it occurs due to misaligned or crooked teeth.
Braces may help realign the teeth and correct the bite to give relief or completely eliminate the problem of teeth grinding.
How Do Invisalign Braces Help With Teeth Grinding?
Invisalign Braces may help realign the teeth and correct the bite to give relief or completely eliminate the problem of teeth grinding.
Invisalign Braces actually make your teeth straighter or more aligned by applying pressure on them in a particular desired direction.
The pressure allows teeth to become loose and reposition themselves according to the direction of force.
Your orthodontist may call you once in a month for follow-up and check if the invisalign braces are applying enough pressure for necessary orthodontic movement.
In some cases, headgears may be recommended to you for increased pressure along with invisalign braces.
Considerations After Invisalign Braces
Once the orthodontist feels that the desired result has been achieved and your teeth are now aligned as desired, braces will be taken off.
After taking out the braces, a thorough examination of the teeth and oral cavity is done to make sure all the bites are normal and you don’t feel any discomfort.
X-ray may also reveal any wisdom tooth erupting. If that is the case, your orthodontist may recommend extraction of the wisdom tooth before letting it erupt and disturb the new alignment.
Once everything is checked, your orthodontist will give you a new appliance to wear. This new appliance is called retainer and is very important to wear after braces are taken off.
Retainer helps to retain and maintain the new alignment until all the jaw bones, gums and mouth structures are adjusted to the new alignment.
The time duration of wearing such retainers may vary from person to person.
Invisalign Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Aligns the misaligned teeth
- Relieves the tension in the jaw due to misalignment
- You get an aesthetic smile
- Improves overall oral hygiene
Cons:
- Mouth soreness during initial adjustment period
- Tongue hurts during the initial treatment period
- Have to wear 22 hours a day
- Interferes with eating and drinking and had to be removed every time you eat or drink
Tips For Getting Comfort From Invisalign Irritation During First Few Weeks Of Treatment
Discomfort during the initial few weeks of invisalign treatment is normal. However, you can lessen the discomfort by following these tips:
- Use Dental Wax: Sharp edges in invisalign may cause discomfort to your mouth and tongue. Hence, use of dental wax to lessen discomforts from small edges of invisalign is recommended.
In case of very sharp edges, visit your dentist to get it removed.
- Use peroxide-based mouthwash: Peroxide-based mouthwash may help heal the tongue and mouth sores. It also helps to attain a fresh breath and maintain good oral hygiene.
- Safely remove your invisalign tray: Inappropriate pulling out of invisalign tray from your mouth may cause the plastic to wrap and ill-fitting of your invisalign. It is recommended to remove your invisalign inside-out using clean hands or use an orthokey for ease.
- Practice chewing exercises: Chewing exercises using a styrofoam chewie may help blood flow to teeth, jaw and gums. Good amounts of blood flow help heal the soreness due to invisalign. It is recommended to practice chewing exercises several times in a day.
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the question,”why can’t I close my mouth with invisalign?”. We understood what an invisalign is, types of dental issues that can be addressed by an invisalign, do invisalign braces help with teeth grinding, how do invisalign braces help with teeth grinding, and considerations after invisalign braces. The article outlined pros and cons of using invisalign and tips to reduce the discomfort of invisalign treatment during the first few weeks of treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions: Why Can’t I Close My Mouth With Invisalign
Can you fix lip incompetence with Invisalign?
Yes, lip incompetencies can be fixed with a wide range of orthodontic appliances including invisalign.
Lip incompetence due to misalignment of teeth may be corrected with invisalign and use of retainers.
How can I relax my mouth with Invisalign?
To relax your mouth with invisalign use an ice pack. Ice pack applied on the cheeks may help reduce inflammation and discomfort caused due to invisalign during the initial few weeks of treatment.
Does Invisalign Cause Teeth Grinding?
No! Invisalign does not cause teeth grinding. In fact, invisalign helps align your teeth and at the same time also protects them from teeth grinding wear and tear.
Can teeth heal from grinding?
Yes, teeth can heal from grinding. In many children, grinding or clenching of teeth is not that severe or continuous and thus doesn’t require any treatment.
In some where grinding is continuous and severe, proper treatment may be required to treat the teeth grinding.
Treatment may involve basic orthodontic appliance therapy if the underlying cause is misalignment or it may involve psychological therapy if teeth grinding is due to stress and anxiety related disorders.
What deficiency causes teeth grinding?
Deficiency of vitamins, calcium and magnesium may be a secondary cause of teeth grinding.
How do I stop grinding my teeth naturally?
To stop teeth grinding you must:
- Exercise daily at least for 30 minutes
- Yoga can help de-stress and give relief from stress induced teeth grinding
- Stop too much intake of caffeine
- Visit your dentist and get yourself a mouthguard for night
Is a top or bottom night guard better?
Bottom night guards are preferred by most dentists because of their comfort and ease of use. However, depending upon the individual, a better night guard is the one that suits you the best.
References:
My Invisalign Trays Aren’t Fitting! What Do I Do? 4 Steps To Take
What to Expect with Invisalign: My First Six Weeks
Five Invisalign Tips Every Patient Should Know
Invisalign Do’s and Dont’s
Dental Braces and Retainers – WebMD
What to Know About Invisalign and Its Effectiveness.(2021)