Last tray...

[germangirlinva]

I started my last UL tray (#13) yesterday. My upper teeth look great and I'm very very pleased with the result. I may need one set of refinements though because one tooth did not move as I expected. It's really not a big deal, but I want to at least try. I get a lot of compliments on my teeth.

I still have 8 more trays for my lower arch (21 trays total) and I'm supposed to wear the UL tray #13 until the lower trays are finished. I find this totally gross because after two weeks the trays are generally not looking their best anymore. I clean them with toothpaste and a toothbrush.

Are there other alternatives as far as cleaning?

I don't understand why Invisalign does not provide numerous copies of tray #13 for my UL arch until the LL is finished. What if the UL tray breaks? Are my teeth going to shift back until replacements come in? This could take weeks. I'm a bit upset about it.

[Slider]

Congrats on the progress. I can't wait for mine to be done.

I found that cleaning my trays 4 to 5 times a week with liquid dish soap and a denture brush has great results. I read that toothpaste is harsh on the trays and actually scratches them. I got to thinking that if I eat and drink from stuff cleaned with liquid dish soap it should be safe to clean my trays and it works great. Just make sure to rinse them off real good so you don't taste soap. The rest of the time I just brush the trays with my toothbrush and warm water. I wore my first tray for 6 weeks doing this and they looked great even after that time.

[Phantom Muse]

Congrats on moving so far along, GermanGirl!

I was in a similar situation as you, and fortunately my last lower tray did not break after almost four months of wear. Some orthos, I have since discovered, do order additional trays or time treatment so that both arches are progressing at a similar rate. Oh well... Just be very gentle with that last tray! I found that when my ortho took off the attachments at the end of the lower tray, I was able to be even more gentle with the tray.

I have been soaking my last set of trays in straight white vinegar, and that seems to liven them up a bit, but they are still cloudy. I have my retainers as of yesterday, so I am hanging onto the last set as insurance!

[ChicagoJohn]

You bring up a great point. Why can't Invisalign provide a few extra copies of the last tray since you have to wear it so long? What if it breaks?

I'm done with my bottoms and I've been in my last tray for about 8 weeks now while my uppers finish up.

After 8 weeks, the tray still looks pretty clear and clean. All I do is soak it in warm water whenever I can and give it a brush every morning and night with the toothbrush. But still, yeah I don't like having the same piece of plastic in my mouth full time for that long either.

[Lucy1986]

I use retainer brite and have been wearing my last lower tray for around 5 months and it looks great!

[tman314]

It all depends on your ortho and how they plan the treatment like Phantom Muse said. I have the exact same number of trays for my upper and lowers (currently on 17/24...picking up 18 & 19 in a few hours) and my lowers were nowhere near as bad as my top. So I don't think it's something you can blame Invisalign for...

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

It all depends on your ortho and how they plan the treatment like Phantom Muse said. I have the exact same number of trays for my upper and lowers (currently on 17/24...picking up 18 & 19 in a few hours) and my lowers were nowhere near as bad as my top. So I don't think it's something you can blame Invisalign for...

This is exactly it. With all Invisalign treatment, the number of trays, the way the teeth move, the number of attachments, etc are all up to the doctor. Invisalign's techs may make a suggestion, but the doctors have the final say. There is no "blame" that should be put on Invisalign, as having fewer trays in one arch was a decision made by your doc. "Invisalign is a technique, not a product".

I agree 100% with everyone's suggestions to have some "extra" trays, or the same number of trays. The use of Invisalign Teen may allow your doctor to order more trays of the same stage without any additional cost to you. If you have "regular" Invisalign, there will be a cost for replacement aligners. This is something to consider when discussing your treatment plan before you start treatment .

[myhollywoodsmile]

Hi there,
Brushing your teeth with toothpaste might be why they are going cloudy. Toothpaste is quite abrasive and can scratch the surface. Even if the scratches aren't visible to the eye apparently they can harbour bacteria.... My ortho suggests bleach and water once a day but I actually use denture cleaner to keep mine looking good. I wore my last upper tray for a long time whilst waiting for completion of my lowers and it stayed pretty reasonable.
My sister in law has been wearing the same clear plastic retainer for 15years!!! Not an Invisalign one, but I dread to think what it looks like by now!

[angel9165]

The best thing I have found is Listerine Pre Rinse w/ bleach. I soak my trays in that when I'm not wearing them and have no problems with them getting gross (and I never brush them...just soak).

[sadsmile]

I just use warm water and my electric toothbrush, as found when I used toothpaste on my first few trays it made them smell!!!

[germangirlinva]

Well, I listened to you guys and I'm only brushing with cold water and a soft child toothbrush and it REALLY works. After over a week, my trays still look like new and there is NO smell. I previously used my brush and toothpaste and the trays got real cloudy and smelly after two weeks. I've also used the Efferdent cleanser and it works really well. I'm so happy I can ask questions here.

[Houdini]

The best thing I have found is Listerine Pre Rinse w/ bleach. I soak my trays in that when I'm not wearing them and have no problems with them getting gross (and I never brush them...just soak).

Late reply, but this also works really well for me!
For some reason I get a little sloppy at the end of a set of trays and end up rushing to brush them rather than just soaking them while I eat. After brushing them a couple days, I definitely notice they get cloudy quick.