- December 14, 2021
- Posted by: Dr. Alan Wong
- Category: Modern Aligners
For teeth grinders, getting Invisalign braces can seem like an expensive investment that might break after a few nights of you grinding your teeth. Fortunately, Invisalign braces can actually help reduce teeth grinding and protect your teeth.
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How Does Teeth Grinding Affect Invisalign?
Teeth grinding isn’t as uncommon as you might think, but it still poses a problem to your dental health. Grinding your teeth while wearing your Invisalign braces can wear them down much quicker than expected, but in some cases, your aligners may help you stop grinding your teeth.
If Invisalign doesn’t help you stop grinding your teeth, you could wear or bite through your braces. However, you’d have to do some rather extreme grinding every night for this to happen.
Invisalign braces are changed out every week or so to help straighten your teeth. Since they are replaced often, grinding will rarely cause any severe damage that renders them useless during the week. If you’re really worried about grinding your teeth while you sleep, you have the option to include a night guard with your Invisalign braces.
If you do grind through your Invisalign braces before it comes time to replace them, talk to your orthodontist, and we can order you a new set a little earlier. Again, if you’re worried about wearing through your aligners prematurely, adding a night guard can help reduce this risk.
When you wear your Invisalign aligners at night, you give your teeth an extra layer of protection from the grinding. The aligners act as a cushion between your teeth and can reduce the risk of teeth cracking or chipping.
Can Invisalign Replace A Night Guard?
Since Invisalign aligners help protect your teeth from grinding, you may wonder if you can use them to replace your night guard altogether. In most cases, the answer is yes. If you grind your teeth excessively or are still worried about wearing through your aligners, talk to your orthodontist about getting a night guard during your Invisalign treatment.
Much of the time, Invisalign aligners will act as a night guard and reduce the effects of teeth grinding, so you shouldn’t have to worry about getting an extra night guard. Don’t let teeth grinding get in the way of your treatment.
How Do I Stop Grinding My Teeth With Invisalign?
Teeth grinding is also known as bruxism and isn’t necessarily treatable, except through night guards and aligners like Invisalign. You may not be able to find a specific treatment to stop it, but wearing your Invisalign aligners at night can help train your jaw to stop clenching and grinding.
If you clench or grind your teeth during the day, there’s a better chance of you training yourself to stop. Wearing your Invisalign aligners will protect your teeth at all hours, but try to notice when you clench or grind your teeth during the day.
It’s recommended that you wear your Invisalign aligners for around 20-22 hours per day, so there’s a very high chance you’ll be wearing them whenever you grind your teeth. Even if you don’t consciously notice yourself grinding your teeth, Invisalign will be there to protect your teeth from damage and can act as both a daytime and nighttime guard.
Conclusion
Invisalign is meant to be worn during the day and at night. While this may seem problematic for those who grind their teeth at night, it can help prevent damage caused by teeth grinding. Make sure to tell your orthodontist about your teeth grinding if you haven’t already, but don’t let it be a reason why you don’t get Invisalign.
Dr. Alan Wong is a dedicated orthodontist who loves helping his patients achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. He is committed to providing gentle, effective care in a patient-centered environment. Dr. Wong is also a strong believer in continuing education, so he can provide his patients with the latest and greatest treatment options.