How to Use Dental Wax for Invisalign Discomfort

Dental wax is a tried and true method to prevent any pain or scraping associated with metal braces. But many people don't know that dental wax can also be used to combat discomfort associated with Invisalign. In this blog we break down some of the reasons why your Invisalign hurts and offer remedies to enjoy a more comfortable treatment experience, including how to use Invisalign wax. Ready to talk all things dental wax for aligners? Let's get started!

Why Do I Need to Use Dental Wax for Invisalign Discomfort?

While it is true that clear aligners are more comfortable than braces, you’ll still have to deal with Invisalign sharp edges or irritation points that can become painful. Irregularities in your trays, as well as buttons and attachments, are often the cause of irritation. Luckily, dental wax can solve many of the same problems with Invisalign that it can with metal braces. Placing a small amount of wax on your aligners can protect sensitive areas of your mouth, tongue, and gums and alleviate discomfort. 

We'll walk you through how to use it later in the blog, but first let's review some common causes of clear aligner pain.

When beginning treatment, many patients ask “does Invisalign hurt” and want to know how to relieve pain and discomfort. Here are several common causes of Invisalign pain and irritation.

     1. Tray Placement is Slightly Off

It can take a bit of time for your teeth to adjust to a new set of clear aligners, especially early in treatment when your mouth is still adjusting to the experience. The first time you put on your trays, you may have a hard time ensuring they are ‘seated’ correctly on your teeth. Loose trays are a common cause of tongue and gum irritation, so before reaching for the dental wax, practice seating your trays with chewing exercises.

Your orthodontist may have given you some foam chewies to bite down on, but these aren’t convenient to use on the go and they can get dirty and gross if you don’t keep them clean. Try Movemints Clear Aligner Mints, developed by an Orthodontist as an alternative to Invisalign Chewies that freshen breath and fight Invisalign dry mouth during treatment.

With a patented groove designed by an Orthodontist, our aligner-friendly mints serve the same purpose as chewies but offer more discretion when getting your aligners into the right position. This is a concept known as Invisalign tracking, and it is crucial for achieving your ideal smile.

     2. Clear Aligner Sharp Edges

Sometimes, the edges of your clear aligners can be sharp and lead to Invisalign cutting your tongue and cheeks. While this is not a sign of a major issue with your aligners, it can get annoying and downright painful. Thankfully, a bit of dental wax can easily cover the sharp edges, making your Invisalign experience much more comfortable.

     3. Invisalign Wax Can Help With Speech Adjustment Process

Though Invisalign is practically invisible, you may notice some differences in your speech when you wear your first set of clear aligners. The gap that can occur between your clear aligners and your teeth sometimes leads to a temporary lisp. Thankfully, placing a small amount of dental wax over the gap can help.

    4. Irritation Caused by Invisalign Buttons

If your treatment progress isn’t going to plan, your Orthodontist might recommend a type of Invisalign attachments called buttons, which are adhered to your trays to hold elastic hands to provide additional force while you wear them. Because they are adhered to your trays, they can cause the same kind of irritation associated with Invisalign sharp edges. Until your mouth adapts to these buttons, you can use some dental wax to protect your sensitive areas.

How to Properly Use Dental Wax for Invisalign

Properly applying wax for Invisalign is a great way to alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by the triggers we just reviewed, and fortunately it's a cheap and easy technique for Invisalign users. Here's how to apply dental wax to experience Invisalign pain relief.

     1. Make sure your teeth and aligners are clean before applying dental wax

Before you even grab your dental wax, you need to make sure that your teeth and gums are clean. Simply brushing and flossing your teeth before applying dental wax should be enough to prepare. If you have the time, rinse your mouth with a gentle mouthwash before applying the dental wax. Learning how to clean aligners properly is an important part of Invisalign comfort and hygiene as well. Once you are confident there aren’t any food particles or plaque hanging around your teeth or clear retainers, it's time to move on to the next step.

      2. Ensure that the affected parts of your mouth and aligners are dry before applying the wax

To make sure that the wax will actually adhere to your aligners, it is important to dry the area as possible. If your mouth and aligners are not dry when you apply the wax, it will fall off quickly. Use a soft cloth or cotton swab to remove any excess moisture and then So, if the affected area is sufficiently dry, you are ready to move on to the next step.

      3. Apply the Wax

Now that we have cleaned and dried the affected area along with our aligners, it’s time to apply the wax to your aligner. First, take a small piece of wax — the exact size will be determined by the affected area. Roll the wax between your fingers until it forms a small ball, then carefully place it on the affected area and spread it over the sharp edges. Once the wax is properly applied to your Invisalign, you're ready to put your trays back in.

       4. Safely Remove the Wax

Removing dental wax from your Invisalign is easy. All you have to do is manually remove the majority of the wax from your Invisalign or wherever you placed the wax to combat irritation. After removing the wax, brush around the area to make sure that no wax is still hanging around. And there you have it! By using dental wax, you can cut down on your pain and discomfort levels during Invisalign treatment.

For more Invisalign tips and tricks, check out our Movemints blog to answer every question you have about straightening your teeth with clear aligners!