Before Starting Invisalign! -what to expect | A Bridge Across The Pacific

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Side story
What’s Invisalign?
Before you start Invisalign!
In conclution

Side story

Before going into my journey, I would like to talk about my story.

So, when I was in junior high school, I used to BEG my mom for me to get braces.

Though, we weren’t that poor, she always denied saying
“If you’re going to be a model, or those teeth give you cavities, I understand.”
“You don’t need them.”
“Get it done yourself when you’re older.”
Every time she gave me great excused not to get braces, I just went back to my room.

My teeth aren’t bad at all.

I never had cavities in my life, I’ve been to the dentist less than 5 times in my life, they are white.

They aren’t bad at all.

I go to the dentist about once every 5~8 years, and every dentist tells me that my teeth are so beautiful.

…But, they don’t line well.

It’s not like, “ewww!!” but still,
the guy next to my canine is behind my lower teeth, 4 of my lower front teeth look like they are having a double date.

Well, now that I am older and can pay by myself, I decided to get Invisalign.

What’s Invisalign?

Invisalign is a name of a product.
They’re aligners that aligns your teeth.

You will get 20~30 sets of aligners and change them every 2~1week.

I heard some people say “I spent this much money and it hurts!!!” …like… yeah, you are forcibly moving your teeth, so, yes, it’s gonna hurt baby.

So what’s the point of using Invisalign?

They are not as apparent as the usual braces.

BUT

Since your teeth are smooth on the surface, the also smooth material plastic won’t be able to grab onto your teeth. So you will have to get 4~6 attachments on your teeth. The number of the attachments depends on your teeth situation.

For some people, they will need to get it on their front teeth, which will be a bit visible.

Before you start Invisalign!

As you know, the dentist will tell you all the GOOD things about getting Invisalign. And then they tell you the BAD things later you decided to get them.

I do love my dentist, but there were some stuff that he didn’t tell me in advance, so I would like to share those with you before you get Invisalign.

It hurts

They are braces. They just claim to be “invisible” not “un-hurtful”. Sorry…

You’ll get attachments

Like I said before, you’ll have to get 4~6 (it depends) attachments on your teeth. Mostly on your canines or around those teeth, but some people have to get them on their front teeth.

You can’t wear lipsticks

Since it’s made of plastic, lipsticks or any tinted lip cream will stain your aligner.

Brush your teeth after every meal

When you eat, you’ll take the aligner off. After you ate, you’ll have to brush your teeth and then put them back on. Imagine being lazy and putting them back in without brushing you teeth… eww.

No eating or drinking besides water

Shockingly, yes. That’s the truth.

Wine, coffee, juice, all the above, you won’t be able to drink.
Why not use a straw? No, it will come in the aligner and not only stain your actual teeth, but that could cause cavities.

Some people call it the “Invisalign diet”.

Change to a new one every 2~1week

It depends on your teeth condition, but usually you will get 20~30 trays. Your dentist will give you 3 or 4 sets and check up every time you get the new sets.

Wear them 20~22 hours a day

So, basically you’ll be wearing them ALL DAY.

I think the only time you will take it off is when you eat. Right after you take them off, your teeth will start going back to the original position. I heard some people say that just taking Invisalign for a couple of hours made them not fit anymore.
When that happens, you’ll need to do all the process from the beginning. So if you want it to end faster, be patient.

You’ll get lisps

Your lips will get stuck, your upper and lower teeth don’t fit, all those things going in your mouth will usually make you get lisps.

Your upper and lower teeth won’t fit

Since both upper and lower Invisaligns are doing their job, they don’t care about your comforts.

You have to wear a retainer every night

This one! I wish the dentist had told me the most!!!

Even after you graduate your Invisalign, all your teeth will try to go back to your original position. So, you’ll have to wear a retainer for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! (Jk)

But seriously, some people say they have to wear them for their rest of their lives. And the others say it depends on their situations.