Dentist has recommended Invisalign but I am type 1 diabetic and sometimes need to eat Skittles!

[whatisgoingonandwhy]

Just that really, my diabetes control is fairly tight as I use an insulin pump so may need a coufew skittles to raise blood sugar. Have explained this but he still seems to be pushing it. Am I right in thinking it’s not a good idea?

You can eat with retainers in but they may stain. It only takes a 10 seconds to pop out both sets of retainers.

Presumably OP has paid a lot of money for the braces, they're not free!!

So of course they want to wear them.

Don't risk eating anything with the retainers in, especially if it is high sugar. Take out retainers, eat something, then brush teeth before putting the retainers back in.

It's too much of a risk to eat something with retainers in which food might get trapped and cause serious erosion.

Yes you do, that’s what Invisalign is. You remove to eat, brush teeth and pop back in.

@whatisgoingonandwhywhen I’ve had to eat in public, I just get a tissue in front of my mouth and just pop them out. Then eat the skittles and then pop back in, brush your teeth when you can. It’s no big deal, you’ll be fine 😀

You’re fine!! Don’t panic. Take it out. Eat skittles. Brush when you can. If the retainer is out for longer than you’d like you can just delay the transition between trays. So change after 10 days rather than a week. That way you clock up the right number of hours per retainer. It’s fine. Good luck.

You can’t eat anything with the retainers in because the sugar could get stuck under them and start eating away at your teeth!!!!

So with any of the suggestions made (love hearts, jelly babies, sugary drink) OP would need to take the retainers out and brush her teeth before putting back in.

When I had Invisalign there were days when it would be easier not to wear them at work or socialising because I knew I’d be eating and drinking throughout the day. It was fine and my teeth are lovely and straight now.

I wear Invisalign. I think you could use something like Love Hearts - quick crunch to them with retainers in and swallow down and then when you finish with the client take them out and wash mouth with water or you can buy chewy disposable ‘toothbrushes’ to use and pop back in. After you’ve had them for a bit you’ll be able to whip them out in 2 seconds.

Just suck the skittles?

If OK removed the retainers and brushes her teeth ove the next hour it won’t be a huge risk.

I think you’re really overthinking it. You can just remove them and put back in after the skittles. Give teeth a brush when you can or leave out the trays until finished with that client and quick brush in car before next client and trays back in. Otherwise maybe explore if there is a drink you can have instead of the skittles.

Look up the work of Dr. Ian Lake.

Then you won’t need to eat skittles.

Would a fixed brace be an option instead? I had one as an adult with white blocks and clear wires, and you could hardly notice It. I dare say it’s a cheaper option than Invisalign too. You could eat any time you needed to then.

Okay but it doesn’t have to be skittles. There are other things you can pop if you need to (have diabetes so understand this issue). Think you are making excuses.

jelly Babies are soft and just as good
dextrose will dissolve in your mouth

you don’t need skittles , you need pure fast sugar for which there are plenty of options

I do understand what you mean. I very rarely snack now because of my aligners because it is a pain to take them out, put them away, eat, then you need to either chew sugar free gum or brush your teeth, use dental floss, put them back in & even worse if you have to take the bands off & new ones in! I haven't eaten sweets in over a year for this reason

I drink tea & coffee all day with them in. They do become a bit stained but you change them usually every week

You will be able to manage a couple of skittles with them in.

Can you not just talk to your dentist about that?

And what the alternatives are? If your current bite is causing a problem that needs addressing you need to find the best solution.

What outcome do you realistically want?
Diabetes management advice WITH Invisalign?
An alternative to Invisalign?
To opt for no treatment and to address the enamel problem when it comes to a head?

Decide that and then communicate with your dentist. They are trained professionals who are literally qualified and paid to answer these questions as part of your consultation and appointments.

Just put the skittle or love heart at the roof of your mouth and suck it, rather than crunching it. Invisalign don’t cover the roof of your mouth.

For staining, wash your Invisalign weekly in an ultrasonic cleaning pod with a steradent tablet. They clean beautifully and it’s much cheaper than the Invisalign cleaning stuff they try and sell you.

use glucose drinks instead then?

Why does it have to be Skittles? Isn't there anything else you could eat that wouldn't cause problems?

With invisalign you change the retainer every two weeks - it's not like you need to carefully preserve it. If you bite on a single sweet occasionally, it can't do that much damage. How often is this going to happen where you can't quickly remove the retainer?

Thank you for all your comments. Have seen dentist this morning and he’s referred me to speak to an orthodontist regarding fixed braces.

Don’t do that! The heat warps the plastic and you might not get the same results.

You're probably right in that they might become warped but I've never noticed it, never been mentioned by my orthodontist (who even said not to bother taking them out for drinking hot drinks) & I'm really pleased with the results. Only 6 weeks to go!