First Day With Invisalign: Tops Tips & What to Expect
It’s normal to be a little nervous about starting orthodontic treatment. It’s a whole new experience, after all.
Before you begin Invisalign® treatment with our board-certified Simi Valley orthodontist, Dr. Albert, you may have a few questions. Will I be able to talk? What will it feel like? What can I eat? You’re not alone — we’ve heard all of these questions before!
We’re here to give you answers and guide you along your journey to a beautiful smile from Soul Orthodontics.
Here’s what to expect on your first day of Invisalign:
What to Eat with Invisalign the First Day
As you know, one of the BIG advantages of Invisalign is that there are no food restrictions. When it comes to navigating how to eat with Invisalign, it’s simple: You’ll just remove your clear aligners before eating and drinking anything other than water.
That said, your first day may come with a little tenderness as your teeth adjust. To stay comfortable, stick with softer foods that are easy to chew.
Think:
- Smoothies
- Yogurt
- Apple sauce
- Scrambled eggs
- Pasta
- Soup (cooled down!)
- Mashed potatoes or cooked veggies
Avoid anything sticky or crunchy that might cause discomfort while your teeth are still adjusting. If you have attachments on your teeth, continue to avoid sticky, hard, crunchy food so the attachments don’t pop off.
There aren’t too many foods to avoid with invisalign attachments, but think twice before biting down on any of these:
- Beef jerky
- Caramel
- Taffy
- Ice cubes
- Hard candies
- Popcorn kernels
And remember: after every meal or snack, you’ll want to brush or rinse your mouth before popping your aligners back in. Clean teeth = a healthier smile and clearer aligners.
What can you eat with Invisalign after day one? By day two or three, most patients are back to eating normally — just with a new habit of removing aligners first and brushing more often. It’s all part of the routine you’ll get used to quickly.
Does Invisalign affect speech?
Your first day with Invisalign will be a small change from what you’re used to, but it won't be long before Invisalign becomes your new normal.
Some patients experience a minor lisp when they first start wearing Invisalign clear aligners. This is normal and temporary! It can require a little extra effort to properly enunciate words when you first start speaking with Invisalign, but most people adapt their speech within a week or two.
There are also a few exercises you can practice to help enunciate certain sounds, especially “s” and “shh” sounds that can be more challenging with clear aligners. Try these exercises to get rid of Invisalign lisp:
- Practice pronouncing “sss” “shh” “th” and “ch” with your tongue pushing downward, instead of upward.
- Take note of the words you struggle to pronounce properly and practice them over and over again until your mouth muscles get used to the new positions.
- Practice tongue movement to loosen up and strengthen your tongue muscles! Move your tongue side-to-side and up-and-down to help train your tongue for new sounds.
According to a study published by the Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, 83% of Invisalign wearers get used to their aligners within one week and 93% of wearers say that clear aligners did not inhibit their speech.
It’s highly likely that you don’t have any problems speaking with Invisalign!
Invisalign Chewing Exercises
When you first place your clear aligners in your mouth, they may not snap into place right away. (That’s the point of treatment - to move your teeth into new positions!) This can require you to fully seat the aligner, or ‘click’ it into place.
There are a number of Invisalign chewing exercises you can practice to fit new clear aligners in place on your first day, and throughout your treatment. Chewing also stimulates tooth movement to support the treatment process.
Clear aligner “chewies” are small circular cushions that you can bite down on to help your clear aligners fit in place. Here’s how to do it:
- Position the chewie between your upper and lower teeth and bite down repeatedly.
- Move the chewie to different areas (between your front teeth, canine teeth and back teeth) and continue biting down until the clear aligners seem to snap into place.
Does Invisalign hurt the first day?
According to the same study published by the Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, 35% of Invisalign patients have no pain and 54% reported mild pain that lasted for only 2 to 3 days following the initial insertion of clear aligners.
You may experience some minor soreness or tenderness around your gums as your teeth adjust to the pressure of your clear aligners. You’ll notice a difference in Invisalign the first week vs second week when it comes to comfort! Just give your teeth a little time to adjust.
When you visit us at our Simi Valley orthodontist office for your complimentary consultation, Dr. Albert will tell you everything you need to know to prepare for Invisalign treatment. Patient education is important to us, and we want you to feel comfortable and informed every step of the way.
Track your Invisalign progress from the first day (and have some fun with It!)
One of the more rewarding parts of Invisalign treatment? Watching your smile transform week by week. We highly recommend taking progress photos — whether it’s a simple selfie, a time-lapse TikTok, or a Reel that eventually shows off your Invisalign before and after transformation.
Not only is it fun to document your journey, but it’s also super motivating to look back and see how far you’ve come. Changes may seem subtle day-to-day, but when you line up your Invisalign progress photos, you’ll be amazed.
Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @SoulOrthodontics if you post your Invisalign progress!
Smile confidently from day one, with Invisalign in Simi Valley!
Dr. Albert is your board-certified Invisalign doctor, providing Invisalign for teens and adults in Simi Valley and surrounding communities. Our mission is to create powerful smile transformations through an elevated, refreshing treatment experience tailored to each patient.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions about Invisalign near you! If you haven’t begun your Invisalign transformation yet, or you’re interested in hearing about other orthodontic treatments, request a complimentary exam today.
