Invisalign...when will it get better?!

[JacobKowalski]

Took the plunge and got some clear alligners fitted to my top teeth on Friday to start the process of closing a significant gap between my front teeth (Not officially Invisalign, but the same thing)

I am already so fed up and feeling like I've made a huge mistake. I have a terrible lisp, feel like I'm slobbering and every time I take them out it hurts 😥 to top it off, the first few times I took them out I struggled so much I ended up bending the plastic on the top slightly so I had a little bit jutting out that has scratched the piece of skin between my lip and gum which hurts.

I'm taking them out 3 times a day to eat, great for the diet because snacking is not worth the pain of having to take them out.

Because my front teeth are the ones that need to move I can't bite down on anything because the teeth are so sensitive, I have to fork food into the back of my mouth, can't bite into anything.

Anyone who's has Invisalign or similar have any positive success stories to keep me going? I'm looking at 6 months to complete the process and I honestly can't imagine doing it that long. I've wanted my gap closed for as long as I can remember but now I'm bloody miserable.

Sorry you're having such trouble with them 😔
I had them 2 years ago and honestly after a few days they were no bother. I remember not being able to get them back in after eating, so much so that I didn't eat in work for the first week that I had them.
Are you getting new ones every two weeks? The first day is always the worst, then things ease a bit. By Tuesday or Wednesday you'll be grand.
Don't regret it, in 6 months it'll all be over, and you'll have fab teeth!!

My 14 year old son is one of many, many teens we know with Invisalign - well, actually a different brand, but same principle. And coping brilliantly! The first few days are a pain, but now it’s all part of his routine, and he takes them out and puts them in in the blink of an eye. He does get annoyed sometimes that he can’t just snack when he wants like everyone else, but it’s really no biggie. He’d be limited with fixed braces too.

The important thing is that he keeps his eyes on the prize. He knows he’s incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity and so doesn’t take it for granted. Have to say I think this other brand is better than Invisalign because there is zero lisp or change to his speaking voice at all.

He will also have to have the aligners in for 18 months or so. But you could see the effects very quickly. Within 4 weeks you could see the gap between his front two teeth closing and within 10 weeks it was completely gone.

You’ll be absolutely fine once the newness of it all dies down. And you’ll be thrilled you got it done! I’d kill to get it done for myself but we only had money for the one of us!

I’m half way through Sure Smile (similar to Invisalign). For the first week or so I wondered what the hell I’d done!

I couldn’t snack, drink coffee all morning. Go out to restaurants. So tricky getting them in and out.

But it gets so much easier. I listened to my friends who told me that. And 3 months in I am whipping them in and out easily. It’s a knack and you have to get used to it. It’s always trickier when I change trays for the first day or so but that wears off.

At first they would irritate my gums so I got dental wax which helped.

I’m now used to them and apart from it being a bit annoying (I’d like to leave them out longer to eat and drink). They are so much easier.

Thanks for the responses, I'm happy to hear that other people get used to it fairly quickly, I hope I do too. Right now it still feels like I'm trying to pull my teeth out getting them off, and my teeth feel so horrible when they are off. I don't think it helps that I can't really eat properly when they're off.

I'm definitely missing my multiple cups of tea and coffee, not sure how I'm going to cope at work where you get offered a coffee at least every half hour!

Can I ask how the dental wax works @Delatron ? I was looking at some online this morning, do you just put it on the parts of the gums that are sore?

I put the dental wax on the sharp bits of the retainer. It does feel a bit weird though. It kind of smooths the rough edges.

I get used to having one coffee with breakfast. Then I’m a bit naughty and whip them out and have another one on my dog walk.

At first I found taking them out so painful and awkward- felt like I was pulling my teeth out. But you do get used to it all I promise. Quite quickly too.

I had them 3 years ago now. The first week SUCKED tbh - my teeth were in pain, I couldn't bite down, I got ulcers all inside of my lips and I could just feel them constantly. It got better quickly, and by about 2 months in I barely even noticed going up to the new trays.

It was so so worth it now I'm at the end result

I got a tool that hooks under the plastic and pops them out.. it was from amazon and really helped. Look up aligner remover tool. The pain will go soon.. it does get better and worth it in the end!

How much are you paying for these? My dd (14) has been recommended this and we’ve been quoted £4000. Is this comparable? Seems very expensive to me but her teeth are not bad enough for NHS treatment.

On the second and third day after I got Invisalign I was thinking it was the worst decision ever. But then it gradually got better and after a week it was fine. I didn't have anywhere near the same issues with each new tray. It was just at the start. I've finished now and definitely glad I did it. But definitely if it continues to be bad, I'd go back to your dentist/orthodontist to confirm everything is ok.

I used dental wax and what I'd do was take a tiny chunk, roll it into a ball between my fingers and then squash it into a disc. Then press that disc over the edge of the tray where it's bothering you so that the sharp bit is covered (do this with the tray in your mouth) so half is on the tray and some is covering your gum, and smooth it down. It might take a couple of goes to get it to stick, and it's harder if the area you're sticking it to is really wet so give it a quick wipe with a clean dry cloth or something.

I agree with the PP who mentioned getting a little tool to help unhook the trays when getting them out.

Agree with others, the first few days are awful but it really does get easier after that!

Has anyone used Sparks?

I had Invisalign for 4 years and definitely didn't stop drinking coffee! I just gave them a good wash in warm water afterwards. I found it a major pain in the ass for all the reasons you've mentioned but the lisp will go, you'll get used to them and it will be so worth it. It does hurt when you change them, but that means they are doing their job and the teeth are starting to move - you'll probably notice a difference quite quickly in how your teeth look. Mine cost 4k.

Warm salt water really helps and try and not keep pushing your tongue towards the sore bit (hard I know). Off to look at Amazon. After 2 months I still feel I am pulling my teeth off when trying to get them off!

I've paid £1,500 for my treatment, however mine is only for my upper teeth, my lower teeth are more or less straight. It seems a lot cheaper than Invisalign which I've seen quoted between £3-£4k but I think that might be for upper and lower teeth.

Did you just take them out to drink and then put them back in? I can take my time over a coffee so I'd have to keep putting them in and out which wouldn't be a great look at my work desk 😂

My son and his wife both recently finished having Invisalign, they are really delighted with the results. My son had braces as a teen but some teeth on the bottom jaw had moved back into the wrong positions. The treatment cost around 3600 each, that included teeth whitening and some small bits of composite work afterwards. Took about 15 months for the treatment.

Thanks so much for the wax tips, I'll order some asap! I got a little tool from my dentist to help remove them, but sometimes I find it hard to hook onto the alligner. When I pop them out at the back it puts so much pressure on my front teeth which hurts and I panic until I eventually get them fully off.

I know this is gross, but I also have so much saliva whilst at the same time being really bloody thirsty. I feel disgusting, I can't imagine being able to speak properly when I'm so phlemy. I don't think it helps that I'm sitting here with my mouth open most of the time because they feel so big and unnatural in my mouth.

100% worth it. Power through, you get used to it and won't regret the outcome.

The first week was AWFUL for me! Wax helped and just to say that i had the saliva thing as well. Persevere, it gets better I promise.

Honestly it took about a month to relax and accept that my teeth weren't going to fall out when I took the aligners out. They just become part of your life - like having a pet only you don't have to walk them. I have elastics now too and can take the lot out and put them back without a mirror (it's not pretty though). Bonjela can help with sore spots.

I get you can't drink sugar/dark coloured things but surely you can drink water with them on?

If you're a caffeine drinker you are probably feeling extra rough because you aren't drinking as much at the moment. I have given it up for a bit at the moment because it was giving me headaches but the first few days without any weren't much fun.

How long did it take for it to stop hurting when you took them out? (If you can remember!) I just took them out before dinner and my front right tooth especially hurt. By the time I actually get to my food I'm too pissed off and achy to enjoy it, I'm really dreading every meal time!

My dentist told me not too many crunchy things like raw carrots, crisps (my favourite thing) at the beginning to see how you get on. I have just ordered a remover tool. I do like to soak them in aligner fizzy tablets every day and I also find a damp cotton bud will clean up all the gunk that seems to collect in them

I had huge buyers regret for the first few days but it got better very quickly

My DD has had them for 14 months and her experience is similar to PP’s in that they ease up after a few days.

She’s close to finishing her treatment and is very pleased with the results, her teeth look amazing. It really does work well.