Newbie with questions!!!

[Phambam12]

Well i started on september 2nd of 2010 and its been a couple of days..

i was wondering

how long does it take to get used to invisalign? i feel like i'll never get used to it

anyone else's mouths get dry? my lips and mouth are extremely dry..

how do you clean these things? i just rinse n brush under moving water if thats okay.

how long will this lisp stay? i talk so weiiiiirdddddd now. ha ha

any tips and suggestions? its gonna be a long process.. U16 n L27

[Phy]

Be thankful that you have not too horribly many trays! Well, relatively to me anyway! I have 33 uppers and lowers, and am now in my 3rd trays. I have lisped BADLY for the entire duration, and am recently just starting to improve. I still lisp now but am thankful because I thought I was going to lisp that badly for 1 year and 4 months. Some days are better and some days worse for me.

[Phantom Muse]

Phambam -

Give yourself a few trays to get fully used to them. I never thought I would grow accustomed to the trays, but within about 6 weeks' time, I was forgetting about them - seriously!

Drink a lot of water - all day long! I don't know if it is the plastic or the fact that your mouth has a foreign object in it or what, but many of us have experienced greater thirst and dry lips. That feeling subsided for me, but maybe because I got in the habit of drinking so much water. Also use lip balm during the day and especially at night before going to sleep.

I now rinse and brush my Vivera retainers with water only, but some people have had luck with toothpaste, vinegar soaks, Retainer Brite, ... If the water is working fine for you, then that is great.

God luck, and keep us posted on your progress!

[Jamie]

I'm now on my fifth set of trays, and I'm completely used to them. I would say that it started feeling "normal" to have them in my mouth around the 2nd or 3rd set, and my lisp started to go away at the same time. I've noticed that if my mouth starts to dry out, the lisping will come back until I get a drink of water.

Chapstick is your friend! My lips were cracking terribly until I started using it on a regular basis. It really does the trick.

Regarding cleaning your trays, there's a long thread on caring for your trays... I think it's one of the "stickies" that come up at the top of the Invisalign forum. I found it to be very helpful when I first got my trays. I learned from reading that thread that toothpaste can be abrasive to your trays and can actually make them smell bad! I've found that brushing them with a clean toothbrush under running water keeps mine clean; it also helps to always give them a quick rinse when you take them out of your mouth.

Good luck! Rest assured that you will get used to them!

[Canadian Sami]

I started on Sept 2 too and I'm so relieved to have found this site. I am at the point where I don't think I'll ever get used to these darn things. I lisp, I think I froth at the mouth, and I'm permanently aware of having two chunks of plastic in my mouth.

I am however incredibly cheap :-) LOL and having paid the money in advance (smart of them) I am determined to stick it out. But it's lovely to read what others on the same journey have to say. Gives me a glimmer of hope. But just a glimmer.

But thanks to all who take the time to post.

Sami

[Ryleigh]

Dry mouth went away after about a week for me. I use Polident retainer tablets to clean them and a quick brush with my toothbrush. I got used to them very quickly and only lisped for a few days. I'm awaiting my first set of refinements at this point. Just a little more tweaking to go. Overall no troubles at all.

[Claudia~]

Hi there~ Just hang in there!! drink lots of water and use lip balm ALL THE TIME!! it does help! another trick that helped me in the beginning was to use a straw to drink water, this might help you too
I had the most horrific sores on the side of my tongue from the sharp edges in the beginning, but thank God for wax for braces, keep this in mind if you get bothered by the sharp plastic edges. It does get easier to deal with and having feedback from our fellow users goes a long way!! I'll be getting my attachments and my 4th
(U24 n L13) set this Friday, didn't have a lisp, but I was told by my ortho to practice speaking very slowly so that I'd get used to hving a piece of plastic in my mouth.
Best of luck!! and just keep in mind that this is all worth a perfect smile at the end of your treatment

[Phambam12]

its been about 9 days and my molars have started stinging.. whats up wit that?

[Invizzle Rizzle]

To clean my trays I started out with antibacterial soap-results: tasted it afterwards. Next, I used dish soap to clean my trays- results: clean but a hassle and some taste. Finally, I used those tablets you put into a cup to clean dentures with, I got the 2-n-1 tablet, and the results: Works perfect. I got a box that can clean em in three minutes so as soon as breakfast comes I throw my trays in there, eat, then when it's time to put em back in I brush my teeth, mouthwash, then brush off the cleaner off the trays under warm water with a different toothbrush.

[Stellina]

Haha it's so funny reading all your comments because it seems the same has happened to all of us.. In my case I got used to them I think after the 3rd set of trays.. At the beggining of each tray I used to get dry lips, even they would bleed a little bit after the night as they got drier.. Lots of lip balm help, and after a certain amount of weeks your mouth gets used to the strange plastic thing and it gets much easier.. you do forget about them. Also the lisp goes away after a few days, although now on my 11th tray it seems the plastic reaches the paladar at the top and I feel a little bit that my speech is difficult sometimes!! But that normally doesn't happen.

The How you clean your invisalign trays? thread in this forum is really helpful. I did clean them with toothpaste and brush, and found out that after a week they don't get very clean, and plaque sticks to the tray.. So after I read it I tried Steradent, which is a denture cleanser and it works wonderfully!! I just pop the trays before breakfast in a glass with warm water and a half a tablet and leave them soaking until I brush my teeth and then I rinse them with water and sometimes I give them a brush after with just water and they shine as new! ;-) Shame I only started doing this 3 weeks ago... Also the tube of 30 tablets costs 50p so it is really cheap!

The worst for me is the snacking.. I used to get really nice snacks and now I have to think twice, just because of the amount of time you need to wear your trays and also because of the fuss of brushing everytime you get some food to your mouth.. can't be bothered and just eat 3 times a day! To keep the body in line is great!

Good luck with your treatment!!

[Phambam12]

my breath and trays stink so bad when i wake up. any way to prevent this? i clean my invisalign A LOT.

[Phambam12]

ouch. i developed a sore on the inside of my cheeks.. it sucks

[Invizzle Rizzle]

my breath and trays stink so bad when i wake up. any way to prevent this? i clean my invisalign A LOT.

Do you brush your tongue and use mouthwash? As for the sore you got, go to a store and pick up Orajel antiseptic rinse.

[Canadian Sami]

I am on day 14 and i can finally say, I think I can do this. :-) I don't really notice they are in there TOO much now. Not totally oblivious to them, but they've gone down to a minor irritation.

They sure are invisible to others though - my Mum hasn't noticed at all and nor has my spouse! I thought I'd wait and not say anything just to see if anyone noticed. Either the product is really good - or my nearest and dearest don't give a darn! Not sure which is the more comforting thought!

However I change to my next tray tonite, so all bets are off tomorrow. I may be back at square one again.

[Phambam12]

if i take it off for 2 hours, should i wear it another day?

[Claudia~]

my breath and trays stink so bad when i wake up. any way to prevent this? i clean my invisalign A LOT.

This might happens because of your dry mouth, probably? or maybe you need to brush your tongue as well as brushing your teeth.
As for the sore, if you buy the wax for braces, take a little piece between your fingers to warm it up, then press it against your tray (while you're wearing it) and drag it a little bit so that the wax sticks to your tray. I had to do this because i deleveloped sores on the side of my tongue...not fun.
Good luck with your progress!! and don't get discouraged

[Phambam12]

ok so i got used to them sort of.. but its so depressing when i eat or want to eat.

i walked by cucumbers n i couldnt snack on them cuz i'd have to brush n floss right after...

its gonna be a long 16/27 trays.