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Original poster

Invisalign top tips

57 replies

Cindy1802 · 04/10/2023 18:13

Got invisalign fitted today, and wow it feels weird. Took them out to eat dinner and feel like my teeth have moved already, my bite felt different... bonkers!

Anyway, anyone got any top tips to help me make it through? Does everyone stick to the rules, i.e. only drinking water, having a proper brush after eating etc?

OP posts:
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Theeyeballsinthesky · 04/10/2023 18:19

I had Invisalign for 9 months and I followed the rules religiously. I had lots of under lying gum problems so had to be scrupulous about cleaning after eating every single time. I only drank water with them in & didn’t take them out for more than 30 mins at any one time. Only exception was Christmas. I now have lovely straight teeth though was worth it 😊

notprincehamlet · 04/10/2023 18:36

No point in spending all that money on Invisalign if you're not going to stick to the rules. You get used to it. Also you've never known true dental nirvana until you've flossed three times a day.

SorrowsPrayers · 04/10/2023 18:37

Stick to the rules...it becomes second nature after a while.
Also fabulous for weight loss as no snacking between meals.

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Dental health
blotchyredanditichy · 04/10/2023 18:40

Completely agree. Best thing I did but I absolutely followed the instructions. Every time you change your brace it feels a bit odd - take photos every week and you will be astonished how things change.

dahliadiva · 04/10/2023 18:41

When you change the trays do it right before bed and take a paracetamol, so by the time you get up in the morning it won't be so painful.

Sparehair · 04/10/2023 18:42

I wore mine as instructed but I must admit I didn’t take them out to drink wine ( white or rosé) as it was lockdown/ school closure hell and I’d never have hit the 20 hours if I had 🤣. I’m not saying I advise this but I’m just being honest that I did it. My teeth were fine but the retainers do stain if you do that.

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 04/10/2023 18:45

Get these from Amazon. They make getting the trays out so much easier

Invisalign top tips
ThreeRingCircus · 04/10/2023 19:21

Would people mind sharing how much they paid and how long it took? I've been considering Invisalign for a while so would be good to get a ballpark figure!

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 04/10/2023 19:28

ThreeRingCircus · 04/10/2023 19:21

Would people mind sharing how much they paid and how long it took? I've been considering Invisalign for a while so would be good to get a ballpark figure!

Mine was £2750 in 2021.

OP, the first week is hell. There will be times when you question continuing. I promise it gets much easier. Stick with it.

Augustone · 04/10/2023 19:36

I sometimes struggled getting my trays out to eat and found the latex/medical gloves helped me grip them better. I stuck to the rules too and it was well worth it. I do find wearing my night retainer a bit of a pain though but as pp said, if you are going to spend the money, you should stick with the rules to get the best outcome.

Original poster
Cindy1802 · 04/10/2023 20:07

Thanks all. Happy to stick to the rules if it means it works!

Someone told me to drink tea/coffee through an aluminium straw. Is this a thing??

OP posts:
Original poster
Cindy1802 · 04/10/2023 20:09

ThreeRingCircus · 04/10/2023 19:21

Would people mind sharing how much they paid and how long it took? I've been considering Invisalign for a while so would be good to get a ballpark figure!

Mine is £3.5k. I shopped around a few places to get the best price with good reviews. I have 22 trays and change them every week. They will take a look after those 22 weeks to assess if I need any more treatment.

OP posts:
Augustone · 04/10/2023 20:34

I did hear about drinking through a straw but didn't risk it. I was too worried excess heat would distort the retainers and milk/sugar and tannins/stain agents would get underneath the tray and stain my teeth.

xyz111 · 04/10/2023 20:44

Yes stick to the rules!! Did find the first few months when I changed the trays, my teeth felt quite tender for a few days. But that eased and then they didn't really hurt. Be really strict with yourself and it's totally worth it.

xyz111 · 04/10/2023 20:44

Cindy1802 · 04/10/2023 20:07

Thanks all. Happy to stick to the rules if it means it works!

Someone told me to drink tea/coffee through an aluminium straw. Is this a thing??

Don't drink any hot drinks, even through a straw as the heat can affect the plastic

xyz111 · 04/10/2023 20:45

ThreeRingCircus · 04/10/2023 19:21

Would people mind sharing how much they paid and how long it took? I've been considering Invisalign for a while so would be good to get a ballpark figure!

Make sure you go to a proper dentist and not one of these online places like Smile Direct. You get what you pay for.

riverlodge90 · 04/10/2023 20:48

Put the trays in a glass of water when not in. Makes it so much easier to put back in and no dry squeaking 🥴

flowergirl5 · 04/10/2023 23:43

I'm picking mine up tomorrow, can't wait to start the Invisalign journey xx

Gatekeeper · 05/10/2023 10:45

mine is £4k but I will have 38 trays! Will be picking mine up next week. I asked the dentist if I was his oldest patient as the waiting room was full of schoolchildren but he said he was curretnly treating someone 82!

Original poster
Cindy1802 · 05/10/2023 11:24

How often does everyone clean each aligner with the cleaning crystals?

OP posts:
LighthouseCat · 05/10/2023 12:51

@Gatekeeper, I'm going for my first consultation tomorrow. If you don't mind my asking, how crooked were your teeth? I suspect I may need a lot of trays too (and have hopefully budgeted enough).

Gatekeeper · 05/10/2023 14:01

@LighthouseCat they are not horrendously crooked compared to some snaggly horrors I've seen but my jaw is very narrow and as I've got older the side teeth are sloping inwards, my canines are projecting out and one of my front teeth is kind of sticking out and over the other. I hate my smile as it looks like I have 4 teeth and my bottom ones are all offset

Gatekeeper · 05/10/2023 14:05

@LighthouseCat please excuse the piece of crumpet stuck in teeth 😬

Invisalign top tips
Gatekeeper · 05/10/2023 14:06

jesus!!!! that looks horrendous

Ineedwinenow · 05/10/2023 14:13

My is costing 3.5k and I will have had 32 weeks worth by the time I’m done, I had an initial 15 weeks worth then on week 15 my dentist noted it wasn’t completely level so I’ve now got another 17 weeks and I’m on week 9 of that!

Mine stay in except for eating, I even leave them in when I drink hot drinks, cold drinks or soup! Obviously as everyone says I don’t think you should leave them for drinks but to be honest I haven’t noticed a change in shape on them nor have they been damaged.