If you’ve heard of Invisalign, you should know it’s strong enough to align your smile. Even so, you may worry that aligners won’t endure your bruxism. Your fears could even lead you to question, “Can I get Invisalign if I grind my teeth?” On the bright side, there’s no need to speculate; your Fort Mill dentist will gladly address your concern. Simply keep reading to learn about Invisalign and whether teeth grinders can get it.
What’s Invisalign?
Before you get into the grinding question, you’ll want to review the basics of Invisalign. Doing so helps you make sense of the answer you’re after.
Invisalign is an alternative to metal braces that consists of many plastic trays. By wearing these “aligners” over one’s teeth, patients can slowly shift their pearly whites into the right places. It’s just a matter of using the trays in sets that get switched out every few weeks.
Notably, Invisalign trays are thin and nearly invisible to the naked eye. That means they don’t give you a “metal mouth” or draw unwanted attention to your grin. Instead, your family, friends, and other onlookers may not even notice the aligners on your teeth.
Can a Teeth Grinder Get Invisalign?
It’s certainly not good to grind your teeth; that habit harms your enamel, causes tooth sensitivity, and worse. However, a teeth grinder can still qualify for an Invisalign treatment.
Bruxism doesn’t usually keep Invisalign trays from working. A teeth-grinding habit simply wears your aligners down faster, forcing you to switch them out more quickly. It could also lead you to buy costly replacement trays from your dental provider. That said, either outcome is something a dentist can anticipate during your treatment.
On the contrary, Invisalign would help with your grinding habit. Misaligned teeth are a root cause of bruxism that treatment solves. By straightening your grin, your trays would cause you to grind less.
Managing Invisalign & Teeth Grinding
With all that said, you can always manage your teeth grinding during the Invisalign process. You’d simply need to do the following:
- Actively Relax – When you grind your teeth from stress, try relaxing your jaw muscles. Easing them will lead to less grinding and clenching.
- Practice Stress Relief – Practices like light massage and yoga can often help with teeth grinding. By easing the tension in your body, they’d reduce your urge to clench your jaw.
Indeed, you can get Invisalign if you grind your teeth. Just consult your dental provider to ensure treatment goes as smoothly as possible.
About the Practice
Southlake Family Dentistry is based in Fort Mill, SC. Led by Drs. Chougule and Fasone, our practice takes a personalized and patient-centered approach to dental care. We always tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to a smile’s specific needs! That way, our team is sure to give you and your family the thriving grins you’ve always wanted. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (803)-548-3342.