What is Bruxism and Can it Affect Invisalign Treatment?
It's not always clear what causes people to grind their teeth, but it's often linked to stress and anxiety. Other contributing factors include sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnoea, certain medications (particularly SSRIs), and smoking, drugs, alcohol or caffeine.
Invisalign® is a series of flexible plastic trays (aligners) made for your current tooth positions and your future tooth positions, using 3D imaging to map the journey. New aligners are issued every one to two weeks, tackling the movement of specific teeth at specific times, which makes Invisalign® gentler than traditional metal braces.
You wear your aligners around 20 to 22 hours a day, which means overnight wear is essential. For people with bruxism, overnight is when most grinding tends to happen - because being asleep, the unconscious mind does its thing.
The continuous force from grinding could mean aligners wear out faster than usual, possibly slowing things down. However, you swap aligners every one to two weeks anyway, and if an aligner wears out earlier than expected, replacements are straightforward to arrange.
Potential Challenges if You Have Bruxism
Invisalign® aligners are made from medical-grade thermoplastic and designed for comfort, but with bruxism there are a few things to bear in mind:
- **Possible aligner damage** - bruxism puts significant force on teeth. Grinding while wearing aligners can damage or distort them over time, which can affect effectiveness or require more frequent replacements.
- **Increased tooth wear** - bruxism can cause uneven tooth wear. With aligners in the mix, that uneven pattern can make it harder for the aligners to function as intended.
- **Discomfort** - grinding often causes jaw pain that can feel worse with aligners in. That discomfort can affect how diligent you're able to be about wear time.
How to Navigate Bruxism Alongside Invisalign
There are several ways to manage bruxism through treatment.
- **Consider a night guard** - a custom-fitted night guard provides a barrier between teeth and can stop them grinding against each other. Your dentist can make one that fits comfortably alongside Invisalign® aligners.
- **Continuous communication** - tell your orthodontist about bruxism from the outset so they can build it into your treatment plan.
- **Regular check-ups** - stick to scheduled appointments so any extra wear and tear can be caught early.
- **Manage stress** - if stress or anxiety triggers your bruxism, stress management techniques like meditation, yoga or counselling can help.
- **Aligner care** - clean and handle your aligners carefully to extend their lifespan.
Speak to a Specialist Invisalign Orthodontist in Sandbach
At Cheshire Orthodontics we understand the desire for a beautiful, confident smile - and bruxism doesn't have to rule you out.
If you'd like to talk to a Specialist Orthodontist in Sandbach about Invisalign®, book a consultation today.