Can I wear aligners if I grind my teeth?

Grinding your teeth is called bruxism. Bruxism can be caused by a variety of factors and can seriously damage your teeth over time. Your aligners and, eventually, your retainers will help protect your teeth from bruxism. If your bruxism is particularly severe, it may ultimately cause your trays to wear out faster. For aligners, you typically won't be in a specific step long enough for this to become a problem. However it's possible your retainers could wear out faster and need to be replaced more frequently. The good news is that, unlike your natural teeth, your aligners are replaceable. You can work with your doctor on what makes the most sense for you.