Really need your help/advice guys - today I was told...

[jackeen]

Hi all

I've just got back from getting my lower attachments and although that was fine the appointment, apart from leaving me a little intimidated (not a very nice experience), has also left me a little anxious/worried and confused.

I didn't see my orthodontist today, but instead saw another lady - let's call her Sal (scary attachment lady!) who fitted my lower attachments and gave me my next 7 trays. Having had T1L for three weeks, I had quite a few questions I wanted to ask. Some q's with today's answers are as follows:

Compliance: Today I was told 23 hours. No lee-way whatsoever - I absolutely must stick to it. My ortho told me 22 hours and that's the general consensus on here. There is no way I can stick to 23 hours - at the moment I'm averaging about 21.
Q: Anyone mid-late treatment currently the same and having no issues with movement etc?

Cleaning: Asked about using Steradent - told no as it's abrasive (felt like I was being told off). I was told to clean with soap and water. Apologies, but I'm not going to use soap to clean my aligners. She also said I could use toothpaste which I found odd (but was too afraid to say anything) as going by a lot of forums, the general consensus is not to use toothpaste. Q: Thoughts?
As I just can't help thinking that bacteria will build up just using water to clean the aligners, I then bravely asked about Retainer Brite to which Sal's lovely assistant stepped in and advised that YES, I can use RB!
One thing Sal did say was not to brush my teeth after every meal. It spreads acid around the mouth - I can't say I've heard that before if I'm being honest. However, I did say that surely logic says that not brushing will simply trap the acid and trapped food underneath the aligner causing all sorts of cavities etc. Nope, I'm wrong according to Sal, but I really want to know what you guys think?

Alcohol: I really like seeing my friends oddly enough, and every so often it's on a night out where alcohol is involved. So, having positioned myself next to the exit at this point, I asked that, if I cleaned my aligners and rinsed mouth every half hour/hour, could I drink? The unsurprising answer - no (in my mind, I'm now sitting on the naughty step). I was told if I am drinking, take the aligners out. I suppose this is fair enough - but this sends me back the 23 hour compliance rule...

So I find myself reaching out to you lovely peeps who are experiencing or have experienced Invisalign to put my mind at rest/set me straight!

Oh, re: the attachments and new tray: thankfully quite comfy considering however, they don't appear to fit right (gaps at top making them more noticeable). I'm hoping they'll settle though I do grind my teeth at night so hoping the attachments won't break! Other than that, I think it's going to take me quite a while to figure out the tray off!

THANK YOU ALL!!!! If you've managed to read to this point - I sincerely apologise for writing so much!

[Miss Upsetter]

1) Honestly, I kind of suck at keeping my aligners in at the 20-22 hours level. I would say I average about 16. I really strive to have them in as much as possible for the first 3-4 days of a new set, since that's when most of the action happens. After they start popping out easier, I get a little lazy about keeping on top of them. Yeah, I'm not the best example...but! My ortho said things are moving really well and to focus on what works for ME and MY body!

2) I use sonicbrite & the cleaner. It rules. Just make sure if you use that to rinse and brush them thoroughly afterward. Otherwise, they'll taste really gross. When I'm in a pinch, I'll use a tiny bit of toothpaste and water. I use burt's bees toothpaste which isn't that abrasive.

3) WTF is wrong with this SAL?? If you don't brush your teeth after a meal and put in your invisalign, it's a prime environment for cavities. Since saliva can't wash the debris away, it just sits and rots there...plus I think that your aligners would get super groady afterward. guh.

4) I drink with my aligners in, however I noticed one night after having 3 strongbow that they were pretty gross. All of the sugar had clung onto the aligners and they were yellow! Thank god for my sonicbrite cleaner. I drink (diet) soda with mine in too.

Basically, i'm an "invisalign sinner", but they're still working perfectly for me. Again, pay attention to what feels right to you!

[MJ2030]

23 hours is THE most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Does she assume you aren't eating 3 meals a day? Seriously. That's about 15 minutes to eat and a few minutes left over to brush. That's it. No snacks then.. oh wait, you AREN'T supposed to brush after eating? So stick your aligners right back in? Just when exactly are you supposed to brush then?

Most of what she said doesn't sound feasible.

[Sunny]

1 - It's important to remember that invisalign is a type of treatment and although 22 hours is the recommended time for aligners to be worn each day, if an ortho designes the aligners to be worn longer or a little less, it is there choice. I've not heard of an ortho recommending 23 hours a day and I guess this is because it's often difficult for patients to fit in 22 hours a day. I recommend you do the best you can and discuss this with your ortho the next time you see him. If you find you're regularly short of the recommended hours, wear your aligner for another few days, before changing to your next aligner. This allows for the movement and rebuilding of the bone to occur, which is a necessary part of tooth movement.

2 - We direct our patients to clean their aligners with liquid soap, cold water and a soft toothbrush. Soap is great to clean with ... and if you think of the products that are cleaned with soap, hopefully you'll work out why. We direct our patients not to use toothpaste as this can cause problems with the aligners and if there are scratches, they risk having bacteria caught inthem, which may affect the look and smell of the retainers.

If you've been eating or drinking foods with acid in them you should not brush for 30 minutes. Acid can wear the enamel off the teeth, which causes sensitivity and staining ... and it's permanent damage. It's recommended that people rinse their mouths with a large amount of water and brush at around 30 minutes.

3 - The only thing our patients are to have in their mouths with invisalign is water. If they feel this will affect their lives too much, we encourage them towards ceramic brackets. If a patient has a couple of 'big nights' over the two weeks they would normally wear each aligner, and get around 20 hours wear instead of the recommended 22 hours, they are directed to change their aligners after 2 1/2 weeks, to accommodate this.

Please remember that people do break the rules ... and that's human nature. Many of these people then report that everything is going well, which it probably is at when they write that. Many of the dental problems related to the health of the enamel on teeth may not show up for a year or two after treatment is completed and the same goes for root reabsorption. Is it worth the risk?

Invisalign requires discipline for the treatment to be completed successfully.

[InvisaNewbie]

Hi all,

I thought I'd chip in with what I was told (started Invisalign a few weeks ago, also just got my attachments)...

I was given a couple of little pamphlets that look like they're printed by the dental surgery I'm having my treatment at. They have a Q&A set up, so I've copied the relevant ones out below....:


When do I wear my trays?
Your aligners should be work 20-22 hours per day EXCEPT:
- while eating
- drinking hot liquids
- cleaning your teeth
Store your aligners in the blue box when you are not wearing them.

When and how do I clean my trays?
Rinse aligners after each meal or snack
- Use normal room temperature tap water and a soft bristle brush. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste may be applied to the brush.
- DO NOT use hot or boiling water
- DO NOT soak them in denture cleaners, mouthwash or bleach

When do I change my trays?
-You have been given several trays to take home with you today. The dates prescribed are marked on each packet. DO NOT insert your next set of trays before this date to speed up the treatment.

Hope that helps! I'm also blogging about my Invisalign experience here

[GoofyGG]

What is wrong with denture cleaners?

[liccledevil83]

Hi,
I've just finished my Invisalign today :-)

when I first had them I was very good at sticking to the 22 hours a day, but to be honest towards the end I was probably on about 16 as well. I knows its bad etc but life / invisalign balance - by the end life was winning!

I always cleaned mine with toothpaste, I think thats what it said in the leaflet I had off the invisalign people

And on nights out I left it out and made sure I put them in when I got home. They were tighter, but I just did my best to wear them more the next day.

brushing before putting them back in? Yes I would advise it if possible! but to be honest it's not always! so rather than leave my trays out for hours on end til it was possible, there are times (probably most days) that I put them back in without brushing and then brushed at a more convenient time.

I'm sure most of this would be tutted at as it doesn't follow the guidelines given, and I do understand the reasons behind the given guidelines, but after 18 months my teeth appear to have survived and are looking lots better! My advice is try to the guidelines as much as you can, but don't let it take over your life! Good Luck! x