Metal Mouth Message Board

Hey,
so its nearly summer, at least here in the UK !
Some of my favourite things to do in this season is going to the park, having picnics, going to the lido.. eating Ice cream outside.. but its going to be rather difficult with Invisalign.. anyone got any tipps, tricks or advice what to do.. For example at a picnic, you can sneakily take the trays out to eat maybe but there might not be a bathroom close by to brush or maybe just clean your teeth a bit at leasst and but them back in?

I've taken a bottle of water and some floss along with me a couple of times for things like this. I poured some water over the trays when I took them out. It doesn't get them completely clean but it's better than not being able to rinse them off at all. I floss a little bit when I think that no one is looking. If I can't hide the flossing then I just don't do it. It just feels like people stare when I try to sneak a quick floss in. I use the rest of the water to swish around in my mouth vigorously instead of brushing. I know that it doesn't completely get my teeth clean but there's no way I'm going to brush my teeth in public outside of a bathroom. But if there's really no one around than I'll use the bottle of water to help me brush with my little portable toothbrush. I'm really great about brushing and flossing during the week so I don't mind relaxing it a bit for a Saturday.

I use chewing gum and water.

Definitely rinse the aligner as soon as it comes out so the spit doesn't dry on it. This isn't ideal, but it usually gets me home/a bathroom so I can do it properly.

Chewing gum and water for me too.

And making some sacrifices, like cutting down on my beloved ice creams..
Ah well, at least my thighs are happy

Where I live it is perpetual summer- which is nice after spending my first 32 years in the UK! However, it's just as easy to get used to Invisalign when it's hot. You just have to adapt.
On a picnic i have been known to brush my teeth behind a tree with a bottle of water. Or, if that's not possible then you need to just swill out with water and brush when you can.

As someone with a pool who swims most days I can tell you that for swimming you need to take them out. Not only are swimming pools full of nasty bugs that you wouldn't want stuck in your mouth, the chlorine isn't good for the plastic either.

As for the beach, sand gets stuck in your aligners and that is REALLY bad for your teeth. Just take them out and wait until you come off the beach to take them off. I've tried several times and however hard I try beaches and Invisalign just don't mix.

Have a great summer....

thanks myhollywoodsmile - and maybe I should move! endless summer, pool.. beach.. sounds all too nice to be true..

myhollywoodsmile wrote:Where I live it is perpetual summer- which is nice after spending my first 32 years in the UK! However, it's just as easy to get used to Invisalign when it's hot. You just have to adapt.
On a picnic i have been known to brush my teeth behind a tree with a bottle of water. Or, if that's not possible then you need to just swill out with water and brush when you can.

As someone with a pool who swims most days I can tell you that for swimming you need to take them out. Not only are swimming pools full of nasty bugs that you wouldn't want stuck in your mouth, the chlorine isn't good for the plastic either.

As for the beach, sand gets stuck in your aligners and that is REALLY bad for your teeth. Just take them out and wait until you come off the beach to take them off. I've tried several times and however hard I try beaches and Invisalign just don't mix.

Have a great summer....

Gotta say that i'm not sure I agree with this one! My ortho said it was fine to swim with them in and I have done for the last 12weeks with no concerns.

I guess it depends what you are comfortable with! I swim for about 5hrs a week and cherish that time for eating, not taking them out for further periods of time, I'd otherwise have to wear them an extra day each time I changed!!!

I am a trained chemist and the chlorine does a good job of ensuring that no bugs can do any harm in the pool, it really makes no difference to your health compared to swimming without them. Plus all tap water contains chlorine anyway! It is obviously just sensible to rinse the aligners when out the pool, but I can't see that swimming has had any adverse side-effects so far to be honest.

In situations like these, those Colgate Wisp things have really come in handy when you can't access a bathroom. I always have a package of them on me.