I have wanted to get braces for years but, just like so many other people that I’ve spoken to, I had a bad experience with a dentist when I was younger and it did nothing short of scarring me for life.
When I was about 12 my dentist (the same one that scarred me) said that I needed braces but there was NO WAY I was going back there!
I remember hiding the appointment cards that came through the post from my mum and dad. I literally waited for the postman every morning so I could snatch that card and dump it before any one else got to see it.
Yes, I was that scared to go back!
Years later, and hiding those appointment cards is one of my biggest regrets.
Having straight teeth and a smile that I’m proud to show off is something that I’ve wanted since I was old enough to feel self-conscious and awkward in social situations where I wanted to smile but always held back because of my smile.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I recently turned 30 and figured that the time had come to finally fix something that had bothered me for so long.
That longing to smile when I wanted to without having to get the right angle or cover my mouth finally got too much for me and I needed to grow up a little and get over my fear.
Bali, Indonesia. More often than not, I used to smile with my mouth closed.
I knew I wouldn’t like sitting in a dentist’s chair. I knew I’d hate the noise of the drills and that distinctive dentist smell.
I knew that all them bad feelings that put me off for so long would come flooding back at some point or other.
But, above all else, I knew that I had to get it done.
Brace Options: Metal vs Invisalign
I’d spent years researching braces.
From the different kinds, the advantages, the disadvantages, and before and after pictures to the cost and the average length of treatments, I read countless articles and watched endless videos as it was something I desperately wanted to know about but was just too afraid to take that first step and actually see a dentist.
Based on my research and the fact that I like to travel (a lot!), there was only one option that ticked all the boxes for me.
That was Invisalign.
Since posting some pics and updates about starting out with Invisalign on Facebook, I’ve got a lot of questions about the treatment, travelling with Invisalign and how much it costs, so I’ve decided to answer some of them below.
The following are all questions that I had when researching and I found it difficult to get specific answers to some of them, so I hope you find some of the info useful.
Invisalign: Why it was the best option for me
Those that know me will know that I only spend a few weeks at home in Ireland every year and when I’m not at home, you could find me in Thailand, India, Peru or Albania.
This posed a problem for me as I knew that I’d never be in the one place long enough to get traditional braces as they require routine 6-week visits.
My only other option was to get Invisalign, and I figured that if I could find a dentist close to my home in Ireland that would allow me to travel for a few months at a time and take my trays with me, I’d be able to travel while wearing braces.
It sounded like the perfect scenario for me and I thought it might be too good to be true so I scheduled in some consultations with a few orthodontists and dentists in Sligo and Galway.
Finding the Best Orthodontist in Sligo
I went to four consultations in total and while all four said that I could travel with Invisalign, some made me feel slightly uncomfortable about it, and one dentist, in particular, made me feel like he just wanted my money and wouldn’t care if he never saw me again!
Not a good vibe to give off.
Finding the best orthodontist in Sligo (30KMS from my hometown) was really easy in the end and after the free initial consultation with Jenny from West Coast Orthodontics, my search for the right orthodontist was over.
With Jenny during my initial consultation
She made me feel super comfortable (which was hard considering my obvious fear) and she said that travelling with Invisalign wouldn’t be a problem, as long as I came home every 2-3 months or so to get check-ups and collect my next set of trays (most Invisalign patients are seen every 8 weeks).
Bingo!
I signed up, paid, and I felt elated that my journey to getting straight teeth was about to get underway.
What is Invisalign?
I’m not going to go into too much detail here as you’re probably already aware of what Invisalign is as it’s become one of the most popular types of braces in recent years.
To put it simply, Invisalign is the clear way to straighten teeth without having to wear traditional metal braces. The treatment requires patients to wear a set of clear aligners that are both removable and virtually invisible.
The aligners must be changed every 7-10 days throughout the treatment process.
For more info on the process, see here.
**It’s important to know that Invisalign isn’t for everyone so if you want to find out if you’re a good candidate for the treatment, you’ll have to book a consultation with your dentist/orthodontist.**
Travelling with Invisalign
Invisalign doesn’t interfere with my travel plans. I’m currently 4 weeks into my treatment and I’m in Vegas, where I’ll stay until the end of September.
Wearing Invisalign doesn’t stop me from smiling
I’ve got enough trays to do me until I go home at the beginning of October and I’m looking forward to my progress check and collecting a fresh batch of trays that will keep me company in Budapest until I go home for Christmas.
Invisalign means you can travel while wearing braces. Thank you Invisalign!
Is Invisalign painful?
Ok, let’s get to the nitty-gritty questions. I guess this one can be answered in 2 parts and you’ll have to watch the video below to see my answer/s.
Is Invisalign really invisible?
No, in my opinion, the trays are not totally invisible.
That said, lots of people don’t know that I’m wearing braces until I tell them.
From a certain distance and in pictures, they are virtually unnoticeable but they’re not 100% invisible.
If you’re lucky enough to avoid having to get attachments (I had to get around 17!), your trays will be even more unnoticeable as you won’t have any lumps or bumps.
Attachments are small tooth-coloured dots of dental bonding that are placed on certain teeth to make them move quicker. I hated mine in the beginning (they were super painful and cut my gums for the first few days) but I don’t mind them now as I know they’re serving a good purpose!
For more info on attachments, check this out (scroll halfway down the page).
How much does Invisalign cost?
Invisalign prices in Ireland average in at around €3,000 to €6,000.
Each person’s cost for treatment will vary depending on the length of treatment, what kind of movement is needed and whether trays are needed for both the top and bottom teeth etc.
You cannot put a price on having the confidence to smile
My Invisalign orthodontist in Sligo quoted me €4,400. Taking the fact that both my top and bottom teeth need straightening and my treatment will take almost 18 months, I felt that price was extremely reasonable.
Jenny was running a promotion at the time of my consultation which meant that my fee for treatment would be reduced by €500. I was ecstatic as that was a huge reduction in price.
West Coast run this promotion from time to time so keep watch on their FB page if you want to avail of a big discount in treatment cost by getting in at the right time.
Some Invisalign providers (mine included) offer monthly payment plans if it’s something you’d be interested in.
Eating & Snacking with Invisalign
In order for the treatment to be successful, patients MUST wear their Invisalign trays for at least 22 hours every day.
That only leaves 2 hours for eating and while that might sound like a lot of time, keeping an eye on the clock and planning when and how long I’m going to spend eating is a bit of a nuisance.
Before starting my treatment, I was a serial snacker and I knew that my eating habits would change dramatically.
4 weeks into my treatment and I snack no more, which is definitely a good thing in the long run!
I take my trays out for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner and to brush before bed and that’s it.
Some people have lost a lot of weight during their treatment process, with some labelling the cause of it ‘the Invisalign diet’!
I definitely find myself eating less crap as my meal times are limited and because I spend most of those two hours eating proper meals, I’m usually too full to go shoving chocolate in my mouth.
Also, because of the cleaning process that comes after eating (we’ll talk about that next), it’s just not worth taking the trays out for a cookie.
Well, most of the time!
How to Clean Invisalign Trays
This is something that’s rarely talked about in blogs and videos online.
Keeping the trays clean isn’t difficult, but it’s important to have your essentials and be meticulous with your cleaning if you want to maintain that non-cloudy plastic look which makes the trays transparent.
Here’s what I do:
- As soon as I take the trays out before eating, I give them a good brush using lukewarm water (with no toothpaste) and a soft bristled toothbrush (to prevent scratching).
- If at home, I leave the trays steeping in lukewarm water while I eat and when I’m out and about in a restaurant or somewhere, I put them into my carry case.
- Once I finish eating, I give them another quick brush under running water before popping them back in.
As mentioned, I’m 4 weeks into my treatment and this has worked out really well for me. When my two week period is up, my trays are always clean and bad breath or smelly trays (ew!) is something that I haven’t had to deal with.
Some people do use a denture cleaner, Invisalign cleaning crystals or Retainer Brite to keep their trays clean. I haven’t used any of these yet but I’m interested in trying out the official Invisalign crystals over the next few months.
**Remember** You must brush and floss your teeth after EVERY meal before putting the trays back in.
Drinking Alcohol with Invisalign
Can you drink alcohol with Invisalign? Is red wine off the cards? What about beer? How will Invisalign impact my social life?
Again, these are questions that I had but found it hard to get a straight answer to.
While drinking alcohol with Invisalign isn’t exactly recommended by dentists (it’s recommended that you ONLY drink water with the trays in), a lot of people do it.
The trays come separately packed in plastic pouches
Some people drink beer and wine through a straw to prevent staining and they rinse regularly whilst on a night out.
Others stick to clear drinks like vodka and gin and again, it’s wise to drink through a straw to prevent the liquid from lingering too long in the mouth as that will lead to stained Invisalign trays.
White wine spritzers are another favourite alcoholic beverage of choice for Invisalign patients as it doesn’t stain like red wine.
As the trays are changed every 7-10 days, many people tend to become less obsessive when they know that they’ll be changing to new trays in a day or two and, from what I’ve read online, all kinds of alcoholic drinks are ago when that’s the case!
I thought that Invisalign would literally ruin my social life.
I figured that if I could only leave the trays out for a total of 2 hours in any one day, how was I going to enjoy a night out with the girls when that usually involves more than 2 hours of drinking!
Having been on 2 nights out since starting my treatment, I now know that it’s not such a nuisance and I hope things will stay that way.
I stuck to drinking a clear drink (Malibu and soda) with a straw and I made sure to rinse my mouth out on numerous occasions during the night with water. I also made sure to brush my trays and brush and floss my teeth when I got home.
Next morning, my trays weren’t stained, my breath wasn’t smelly and I was really happy that I could enjoy a night out with Invisalign whilst not missing out on the fun with friends.
Drinking Tea and Coffee with Invisalign
I still drink tea and coffee but not whilst I’m wearing my trays.
If I were to drink tea or coffee with the trays in, they would stain really badly and the temperature of the liquid could warp the plastic and leave the tray totally ineffective.
I’m definitely drinking less tea and coffee since starting treatment but sometimes it’s necessary to go through the hassle of taking the trays out and cleaning them for a nice cuppa.
It’s always worth it in the end!
So happy that I can still have my Starbucks Latte!!
Because the attachments that are stuck to the teeth are made of bonding, drinking a lot of tea and coffee could stain them leaving an ugly yellowy tone behind. Drinking through a straw is a way of getting around this.
I don’t use straws when drinking tea or coffee and thankfully, it hasn’t happened to me (yet!) and I drink at least one cuppa every day.
******
To finish…
And that concludes the questions!
If you’ve made it this far into the post (well done!), you’re most likely interested in getting Invisalign too. If that’s the case and you have more questions, just comment below and I’ll be happy to answer them for you.
It’s still a long road ahead for me but I already know that making the decision to get Invisalign is one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I will be sharing my before and after pics in a couple of months too and I’m documenting the changes by taking photos of my teeth regularly.
I’m already seeing minor changes which makes me super excited about the months ahead and I literally cannot wait to finish the treatment and start smiling without thinking again.
Great post! I was really curious about this because I’ve always hated my teeth, hated my smile, and was thinking about getting Invisalign (I always smile with my mouth closed too). Only thing holding me back right now is that I don’t have a lot of disposable income right now, but will definitely be saving up once I build up my business and income a little more.
Thank you Eric 🙂
So far so good with the invisalign anyway. It is expensive but, as you know, having a smile that makes you feel good is so worth it. I’ll be doing more posts on it so will keep you updated.
Thanks for the comment 🙂
HI! I know this is an old blog post, but curious on how the rest of your Invisalign journey went? I just found out I will need to wear mine for 1-year and am extremely nervous on how it will affect my lifestyle. I go to the bar/club every weekend almost, and attend a lot of social events.
Hi Becca,
Almost 2 years later and I’m still not finished! I am due to finish in about 2 months time so can’t wait. Honestly, you get so used to wearing them that they just become a part of you! When you’re going clubbing, my tips would be to drink clear liquids if possible and use a straw. You can take them out for the few hours if you really want to but you’ll have to make up for that lost time by wearing them for a day or two more than you should just to be sure all teeth have moved to where they need to be for the next tray to be effective.
I didn’t find it that big of a deal to be honest as you just get used to wearing the retainers and looking after them. Feel free to ask me any other questions that you’ve got as I know starting out is nerve wrecking.
Just keep in mind how much more comfortable you’ll be in those social situations with a smile that you love and everything else will become secondary. It did for me anyway 🙂
Hi hope you don’t mind me cutting in on this conversation, but I’ve just started my Invisalign 2 days ago. Really questioning it as I’m much like you and had to get a tooth out at the beginning which is a tad uncomfortable. My question is can you still drink beer/ clear alcohol with them in on nights out? And basically just have a glass of water every now and again? Am I right in saying that it won’t affect the Invisalign treatment and may only cause the trays to discolour
Hi John. Sorry I’m only getting back to you now! Yes, you can still drink clear alcohol with the aligners in on a night out. I personally wouldn’t drink beer though as I imagine it would stain them. Swishing your mouth with water during the night will help to keep them clean and always clean them when you get home. It won’t affect your treatment as far as I am aware and you’re right in saying that the only risk is discolouration. That’s based on my experience anyway! Hope you’re settling in well to the treatment?
HI! I know this is an old blog post, but curious on how the rest of your Invisalign journey went? I just found out I will need to wear mine for 1-year and am extremely nervous on how it will affect my lifestyle. I go to the bar/club every weekend almost, and attend a lot of social events.
I’ve just started my invisalign as well and came across your post which though old, has really helped – especially your cleaning tips! I was curious how you dedicated time for eating while traveling (i.e. restaurants and eating on the go) and what you did about long haul flights? I’m flying to Europe next week and it’s a 14 hr and then an 8 hr flight from Australia 🙁
Hi Sarah,
Nice to hear from you. 🙂
Regarding eating while travelling, I just always carry my kit and try and find a bathroom to brush and floss after eating. There have been times though where it’s just not possible to clean them so, in that instance, I’d floss, rinse my mouth out, chew on some gum and stick the aligners back in until I could get to clean them properly. I don’t really find long-haul flights to be a problem as I just pop them out for meal time, go to the bathroom and do the necessary and get back to my seat. It’s just an extra effort really but you’ll get used to it. 🙂
The important thing is not to stress, even when you don’t have access to a bathroom to freshen up. Just do what you can (floss, rinse, chew gum etc) in the moment as doing something is better than leaving them out for more than the recommended time just because you can’t brush and clean the aligners.
I would recommend rinsing the aligners as much as you can before putting them into your case before eating as it will keep them fresh and I’d also suggest getting the cleaning crystals from Invisalign’s website (they’re AMAZING).
Let me know if you’ve any more questions Sarah – happy to help. 🙂
Hi, sorry I’ve just stumbled on this post and have a couple of questions, I had my first tray yesterday. Only having 12 trays and changing every week to 10 days so fairly minimal (I had years of braces as a teen). Firstly does it get easier to get the trays out? Seems to take me forever and I guess as my teeth are so sore at the moment it makes it worse. Do you ever get to a point where you can pop them out easily? Secondly if you’ve had dinner and brushed and flossed etc, would you remove again 2 hours later before going to bed to clean again? Apologies for the questions! X
Don’t apologise Nikki – I’m happy to help. 🙂
Yes, it definitely does get easier to take them in and out. It was soooo painful in the beginning that I avoided eating out for the first while as I dreaded having to take them out. It took me about two weeks to really get to grips with taking them in and out and, two years later, I’m now nearing the end of my treatment and I can snap them out in seconds with no discomfort at all.
And yes, I’d normally just pop them out before bed and give my teeth a quick brush and rinse out the trays under the tap. I wouldn’t be too particular with them though if I hadn’t eaten anything after brushing and flossing after dinner.
Hope that helps and shoot over any other questions that you’ve got. 🙂
Hi! I’m 49, had braces when I was a teenager, didn’t wear retainers, so here I go again! Had my first consultation this morning and was told I could have Invisalign (I wasn’t sure I could since my bite is so messed up). I have a few questions for you if you don’t mind! (your blog post was awesome by the way!) Warning…my questions are kinda silly, but are things I’m wondering about! Do you talk funny/have a lisp while wearing the aligners? I read somewhere that it’s hard to wear lipstick? Not sure why-have you experienced this? Lastly, is it awkward taking them out when you’re in public?? It just seems kinda gross! Struggling to decide between clear braces and Invisalign, so thanks for your input! 🙂
Hi Kim, Thanks for your comment and I’m only happy to help. The “silly” questions are the best as these are the ones that everyone has but they are often too afraid to ask a dentist 🙂
Here’s my two cents;
1. I had a very slight lisp for the first few weeks when I started wearing them but it disappeared after I got used to wearing the retainers. I had no issues with talking funny after those first 2-3 weeks.
2. Lipstick can be a bit tricky alright! I do remember putting on red lipstick once and it was literally everywhere – I looked like a mad woman! I’m more of a gloss lover so it wasn’t an issue for me. If you do plan to wear lipstick, you may have to stay away from the very bold colours.
3. Taking them out in public was super awkward in the beginning. I always had to go to the toilet as it took me a while to actually get them out. Once I could take them in and out quickly (which was after about 3 weeks), I would literally just cover my mouth with a napkin and take them out when I couldn’t get to a toilet to take them out and rinse them under the tap.
I’ve had such a great experience with Invisalign and would really recommend them. Yes, you have to be committed to wearing them and the little nuisances like the lipstick and not being able to snack as easily can be a pain but the results are SO worth it. I’ve just finished my treatment now and I actually kind of miss them – Never thought I’d say that!! I’ll be doing another post on them Kim so feel free to send over any other questions that you have.
Good luck! 🙂
Hi Florence
Thanks for posting this! Are you pleased with your teeth after finishing the treatment?
I just got mine yesterday and finding it quite painful – there’s some sharp edges on my trays that my gum and inner lip catch so it’s really sore. Did you have this and if so, do you have any tips to prevent it or know if it gets better?
I’ve also been out for drinks and dinner tonight and ended up having to have them out for hours (like 8 hours ?) which is awful! I’m going to have to make up the time. But my lord, it’s hard to have a social life without them. So happy to hear that you managed it with clear alcohol though – so I suppose as long as I kick my red wine love for a while then I can continue?! Just with a straw?
Thanks! X
That’s 8 hours overall for the whole day by the way (including breakfast lunch and snacks too!)
HI Laura,
Thanks for your comment. 🙂
I’m so pleased with the results and I will do an update post soon with before and after pics etc. so I’ll let you know once that’s live. 🙂
The first few days were torture Laura – the sharp edges made my gums bleed and I didn’t want to take them out as I almost fainted when I had to put them back in. Pushing the aligner down on my bottom teeth was just so painful.
The good news is that it will pass. After about a week, I couldn’t feel those edges anymore and I didn’t do anything to the trays to smooth the edges so I guess my gums just got used to them being there. I read that some people use a nail file to file them down a little but I never tried that.
8 hours is a long time to have them out!! Especially in the first few weeks. I know it’s difficult but my advice would be to leave them in as long as you possibly can for the first few months especially Laura as this is when the biggest changes will occur. My first round of treatment was 12 months so I saw huge changes in the first 5 months and it was a matter of perfecting certain teeth after that. Make up your time by wearing that set for an extra day or two and you’ll be good. Just don’t make a habit of leaving them out as you won’t get the best results and your treatment time will be so much longer. (I’m beginning to sound like my dentist!!)
About the alcohol, you can still have a social life – just without the red wine! Stick to clear drinks and use a straw. I was bold a few nights and drank beer with them in so don’t be too strict on yourself. Just do what works for you.
If you’re based in the US, I’d highly recommend getting the Invisalign cleaning crystals from Invisalign’s website. These were a lifesaver for me when it came to keeping the trays clean and fresh (which was especially needed after a night out!).
If you’ve any more questions, just let me know as I’m happy to help. The results will be SOOOO worth it so stick with it Laura. 🙂
Hi Florence,
Thank you so much for passing along so many nuggets of wisdom about your Invisalign experience. I started my treatment 10/18/18. You’ve answered so many questions I had especially about the aligner being sharp and cutting my gums. Glad to know that’s temporary. The tip about drinking clear liquids through a straw is helpful too. Hopefully straws won’t be completely banned before my treatment ends 10/2019. Lol
You’re so welcome Vanessa and I’m glad you found some of the points helpful. The pain with the gums is only temporary so stick with it and you’ll get through it – will be so worth it. Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment. 🙂
I just started a week ago! I ordered reusable thick plastic and metal straws. They come with pipe cleaners too. So worth it and helps the environment! There’s my pro tip 🙂
Thanks for the tip Maria 🙂
Hi Florence, your blog has been very informative, thank you!
I started my treatment two months ago (of 9 months).
I too was concerned about drinking alcohol, which is what led me here, but as I’ll be swapping sets on Tuesday I think I’ll risk it for one night 😀
As for sharp edges, when I first had my attachments fitted after two weeks one of them really rubbed and made my lower lip quite sore, but that passed after a week, the only other issue I had was biting my cheek on one side where two attachments on the bottom lined up perfects with the edge of the teeth above >.< but that passed too once I learned to compensate while chewing until the teeth moved a little.
Each of my lower aligners have a long pointy tip on one particular tooth along the gum line which I have to file down each time to prevent rubbing, but other than that they’re great!
My only concern is I sometimes find myself clenching my teeth, especially when sleeping, which concerns me that I might be moving teeth in directions they shouldn’t :/
Did you find yourself doing this, or anyone else?
Hi Carey, I never had that issue so not sure how normal it is. Maybe mention it to your dentist during your next check-up and see what he/she thinks. Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment and you’re right not letting your treatment interfere with your nights out. After all, you’ll have so much more confidence in your smile so you need to show it off! 🙂
Hi Florence,
What a great blog, thanks so much for sharing! I’m a newbee on the Invisalign train (literally got them in a few days ago) and it was a really informative read.
Thanks,
Laura
You’re very welcome Laura! Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment. 🙂
Just stumbled across this and so glad I did! I started my treatment yesterday and it’s already been a bit of a shock to the system. Thank you for all of your advice, and the comments you’ve replied to 🙂 especially about drinking clear drinks through a straw and rinsing- I absolutely cant stand plain water and usually drink Tesco squash so I needed an alternative 😂
You’re very welcome Jessica. 🙂
It’s a shock to the system alright and it will take a while to get into the flow of things. You’ll find a routine that works for you.
Not sure on the squash front! Maybe flavour the water with lime or lemon? Or just pop them out when you’re drinking squash, especially the blackcurrant flavour!
Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment. 🙂
I am still in the investigative mode. I have several questions. I move south for three and a half months during the winter. I’m wondering if you can work with two dentists. I’m wondering if Invisalign won’t wirk for me and I should consider a company that sends all the trays at once. Secondly all the discussion about cut gums has me worried if the trays were too sharp in the first place how will your gums heal in a few days. And thirdly what is all this about picking dentists on basis of tiers. And finally do I need to go to an orthodontist before visiting Invisalign. Sorry to be lengthy
Hey Nancy, I only worked with one dentist so I’m not sure about that one. I presume it would be ok – you’d have to get all of the necessary info from your dentist at home to pass on etc. You can ask your dentist at home for enough trays to keep you going until you return home as they will have them in the office – they just don’t hand them out to patients. Your dentist may make the exception if he/she knows you’re going travelling. I explained that to mine from the beginning and she was ok with it.
About the gums – they will be sore! It was strange. The edges of the trays obviously didn’t get less sharp as time went on but my gums got used to them being there and toughened up I guess. I never had to file them but have heard of other people doing so to reduce the sharpness of them in the beginning.
Not sure what you mean about picking dentists on a basis of tiers?? I’m from Ireland so it may be different in the States but I just went to an orthodontist and she referred me to a regular dentist to get a tooth out etc in preparation for the trays. I checked in with my orthodontist every time I was home and never had any problems.
Let me know if you’ve any other questions. 🙂
Hi, I’m about to start my Invisalign treatment and all my questions were pretty much answered in this post so Thankyou ! But I do have one question after eating a dentist recommends to wait max 30 minutes after to brush your teeth… how is this possible when you don’t have the amount of time? Is it ok to just brush them straight after?
Hi Corrie, I used to wait about 10-15 minutes and then brush them. I never had the time to wait 30 minutes! I never had any problems with doing it that way 🙂
So, so happy I came across your post. I started today and it’s a bit irritating but not unbearable. I’m going out with friends and was curious about time: dinner and continuing to drink after. Clear drinks (vodka) works for me, as well as rinsing between/often, so thank you for the info. Your post was helpful, especially after my dentist said only water while wearing, must be worn 22 hrs per day…yikes!
You’re very welcome Kirsty – good luck with your treatment!
Hello Florence. Thank you so much for your blog. Very informative! I am 58 years old and finally decided you are never too old to want straight teeth. As you experienced when you were younger, I too had very painful experiences with my family dentist and still have anxiety during my six month checkups. That is why I choose Invisalign. I start next week and my two top concerns are headaches and drinking coffee/unsweetened iced tea/red wine/beer. My dentist recommended before starting Invisalign I do the new Propel system which helps to jump start the process and leads to a more predictable outcome. The only thing is I cannot take NSAIDs which would be counterproductive to the Propel system which causes a type of inflammation to the teeth getting the teeth ready to move. I was wondering if you had any experience with the Propel? The drinks I think I can handle with a straw. Just not sure how red wine will taste through a straw;);)
Hi Julie, you’re very welcome. 🙂
I never even heard of the Propel system so I have no advice for you on that. Anything that works to better to the results can only help in my opinion. I wasn’t offered that treatment option so maybe it’s very new? Hahaha about the red wine! I stuck to clear drinks always as the red wine, regardless of using a straw or not, would stain the aligners so be very careful. If I was drinking something with a strong colour, I’d always remove the retainers and make that lost time up again. Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment Julie – it’s never too late to get the smile you’ve always wanted. It will change your life 🙂
I just want to thank you for posting all of this info. Here I am in February 2020 reading it! It has helped a lot as I was specifically interested in traveling with Invisalign. I didn’t realize how much it would become a concern! Your tips are great. Thanks again!
Glad I could help Elizabeth! 🙂
Thank you for all this information! I have been wearing my invisalign for a week and it made me feel better because I have the exact same issues that you talked about having in the beginning. I even skipped a meal because I was in pain trying to get them out and it was just not worth it! That final pop when putting the bottom aligner on has not been fun. But I am glad to hear that the issues of pain and the difficulty getting them out will be short-lived!
very useful and explain everything about Invisalign, thanks for your hard work,