There’s a lot about Invisalign® that absolutely nobody can tell you before those clear plastic shells are actually in your own mouth. – Luckily, other Invisalign wearers are happy to share their own experiences on a few key points.
The First Week – The bond experience is not bad – it’s much shorter than getting traditional wires and brackets- kind of braces. Some people have a lot of soreness, others very little. A little wax smooshed between the top part of the aligner tray and the gum will usually do the trick.
Eating – Yes, you can eat absolutely anything you normally eat – most people take their trays out to eat, but as the weeks go by, you will definitely find your list of snacks that you can eat with your trays on. Some foods can stain your trays – mustard, curry, and unfortunately coffee. It’s a bummer if you’re a caffeine freak, but you learn to plan your coffee drinking. And, a nice bonus – along with straight teeth – if you’re snacking less, you’ll probably lose weight. Nice!
Going Public – Hey, you got invisalign so that nobody would know you have braces. Good news, most people won’t notice your Invisalign. Those that do are probably unhappy about their smiles and will want to hear all about your excellent Invisalign adventure. So, either go public without shame, or plan ahead and have extra retainer cases EVERYWHERE – your car, your purse, your gym bag, so you can remove your trays discreetly before joining friends on a nigh out.
Grossness – A soak in water and hand soap will go far to keeping your trays fresh. Some swear by a 5 minute soak 50/50 solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. Drink lots of water – dry mouth is not your friend, and brush….a lot. You can keep a baggie in your purse with toothpaste and toothbrush.
Sticking With It –There’s nothing to stop you from taking those trays out and bailing. Sure, all orthodontic treatment depends upon the patient sticking with it, but only with Invisalign can you actually take your braces off. No one is watching you but you. Stick with it, and you’ll have the smile of your dreams!
